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1  HI-; 


DAILY  EAGLE'S 


MT.  VERNON 


i-:mhkacix(;  a  DEscRirTivi-  historv 

OF  ITS  LOCAL  GOVERNiMEXT,  RE- 
LIGIOUS, SOCIAL  AND  COM- 
MERCIAL IXSTITFTIONS, 
WITH  BIOGRAI'HICAL 
SKETCHES. 


P  R  ()  F  US  H  L  y    I  L  L  CST  R  A  T  H  P  . 


i-O.M  i'ir.i;i>  AMI  i:iiiTi :i> 

11 V 

C.IvOKCIv  ().  HHACH 
WITH   Till-:  COI.AIIOKATIOX  (IK 
JOSHPH  S.  WOOD 
i-iiK  Tin; 


DAILY  EAGLE 


ILLUSTRATED 


HISTORY 


OF 


MT.  VERNON,  N.  Y. 


190J. 


PREFACE. 


THK  compilation  of  this  volume  has 
involved  diligent  research  and  pains- 
taking investigation.  There  may  be,  and 
doubtless  are,  inaccuracies  in  the  work,  and 
possibly  sins  of  omission,  both  are  in- 
evitable. "  History,"  Sir  Robert  Walpole 
wrote,  "  must  be  false,"  but  this  is  designed 
to  be,  and  I  believe  is.  fairly  trustworthy. 

1  ani  indebtetl  for  valuable  information  to 
the  Rew  William  S.  Coftev  and  to  Messrs. 
Clarence  S.  McClellan  and  Alvah  \\  In-ench 

(,.  ().  B. 


CONTENTS 


CIIAI'THR  I.  I'Ar.K 

SctlkiiHiu  —  I'ioiicLTs   and  Ivarlv    ScUIlts  —  De- 

vi-lnpiiR-iit   r> 

CllAi'THK  11. 
-Newspapers — Hanks   211 


CHM'TI-R  III. 
Clunvhfs — Cliil)s   3; 

Cil.\I'T!:k  I\. 
.\ri'hi  Iff  t lire — I'iovcrnnRiil — Smiiiiuirv   ) ' 

CH.M'TI:R  V. 
Scllnols   r>'i 

cii.\i'Ti:k  VI. 

The  .\h.  \'cniaii  Har  iVoiii  ilie  Ivarliosi  Kccollcc- 


tions   (i'.i 

CIl.\l'Ti;iv 

Kio.mapliical  Skcli'lics,  Ivtc. -  Tlii'  I 'cix ma!  Ilis- 
loi  v  ()t  .Many  ol  tin-  Citizens  wlio  have  luen 
I'roniinenl  in  ilie  Lite  of         X  ei  ium   74- 


F.  T.  SMILEY  &  CO., 

PUBLISHERS, 

30  EAST   14th  STREET. 
NEW  YORK. 


THE   ASTE  PRESS. 

PRINTERS, 

231-233  Eowery,  New  York. 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  I. 

SETTLEMENT.-l'lONEEKS   AND    EAKLV  SETTLEKS-DEVELOI'MENT. 


The  history  of  Mount  Vernon  is  comparatively  brief;  it 
is  the  record  of  little  more  than  half  a  century  in  which  from 
"fields  invested  with  purpureal  gleams"  there  has  ariseii  a 
thriving  city  with  twenty-five  thousand  inhabitants,  among 
whom  are  numbered  several  of  its  founders,  who  in  their 
waning  years  realize  that  they  buildcd  wiser  than  they 
knew. 

In  1850  the  high  rents  demanded  for  dwellings  and  living 
accommodations    in  New  York  led  a  number  of  persons  of 


The  Old  Bowtrnirui  IliMiicsiead.  South  Coliinihiis  A  venue. 

moderate  means,  and  with  creditable  aspirations,  to  combine 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  for  themselves  homes  at  a  small 
and  conveniently  arranged  expenditure.  "The  Home  Indus- 
trial Association,  Xo.  1,  of  New  York  City,"  was  among  the 
earliest  of  these  formations.  The  originator  of  this  particu- 
lar project  was  John  Stevens,  a  tailor  doing  business  at  -tTG 
Hudson  street.  New  York.  The  association  was  organized  on 
the  9th  of  July,  18.50,  in  the  rooms  of  the  "Mechanics'  Mutual 
Protection,  No.  11,"  when  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were 
adopted,  and  Mr.  Stevens  was  elected  President,  which  oftice 
he  held  during  its  existence.  Membership  was  solicited  to  the 
extent  of  one  thousand  of  those  of  good  moral  character, 
industrious  habits  and  with  a  desire  to  promote  the  common 
])urpose — protection  against  the  unjust  power  and  influence  ot 
capital,  and  against  land  monopoly  as  the  eflicient  cause  ot 
poverty.  Each  member  was  required  to  pay  into  the  Treas- 
ury or  General  Fund  not  less  than  twenty-five,  nor  more 
than  seventy-five  dollars  within  one  and  a  half  years'  time 
after  the  adoption  of  this  constitution,  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land 
in  otic  location,  said  land  to  be  purchased,  surveyed,  levelled 
and  graded  by  an  Executive  Committee  at  the  exjKMise  of  the 
Society,  and  then  di\nded  equally,  no  member  having  more 
than  one  equal  share. 

The  first  regular  meeting  of  the  association  was  held  in 
the  old  Watch  House,  at  the  corner  of  Christopher  and  Hud- 


son streets,  New  Y'ork,  on  the  19th  of  July,  1850,  and  sub 
sequently  weekly  meetings  were  held  at  Barker's  "  House  of 
Call,"  127  Grand  street.  Horace  Greeley  became  a  member 
of  the  association  on  the  30th  of  August,  1850,  and  later 
was  added  to  the  Executive  Committee.  The  membership 
increased  rapidly.  On  the  16th  of  October,  1850,  the  asso- 
ciation authorized  the  purchase  of  land  in  the  town  of  East 
Chester,  comprising  five  farms,  the  properties  respectiveh-  of 
John  K.  Hay  ward,  Sylvanus  Purdy,  Andrew  Purdy,  and  his 
two  sons,  John  and  Andrew  Oscar.  These  farms  aggregated 
about  370  acres,  and  the  first  cheque  of  $3,4-00  on  account 
of  the  payment  was  given  by  John  Stevens,  as  purchasing 
trustee,  on  the  1st  of  November,  1850. 

The  tract  extended  from  about  the  present  line  of  \'alen- 
tine  street  and  Prospect  avenue  on  the  north,  to  a  little  be- 
low Sixth  street  on  the  south,  except  that  a  small  angle  at 
the  southwest  corner  extended  to  the  Kingsbridge  road.  The 
eastern  boundary  was  at  Union  avenue,  extending  west  to 
beyond  the  present  line  of  Fifteenth  avenue.  Though  the 
name  of  Monticello  had,  among  others,  been  tentatively  con- 
sidered and  generally  approved,  it  was  finallv  decided,  on  the 
27th  of  December,  1850,  to  adopt  the  name  of  Mount  Vernon 
for  the  new  settlement. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1851,  the  thousandth  name  was 


L  ■   '      r  'niltiitrfni  liUfliJfcdl 

Kuiii>,  C;iu>ctl  I)\    1-irc  ill  l-"irst  Street  ami   I'l^iirtl!  Avenue, 
October  Mil.  lsT;s. 

signed  to  the  roll  of  memliers,  and  no  more  were  admitted. 
On  the  ISth  of  .\pril  of  that  year,  .\ndrew  Findlay,  who  had 
been  employed  to  survey  and  laj-  out  the  tract  in  lots  and 
streets,  presented  his  map  of  the  proposed  vill.age,  which  was 
a|)provcd  and  filed  on  the  7th  of  June  following.  The  pl.in 
provided  for  the  necessary  streets,  each  sixty  feet  wide;  for 


6 


HISTORY    OF   MOUNT  VERNON 


one  thousand  quarter-acre  plots  for  distribution  among  the 
members ;  for  four  half-acre  plots  for  school  purposes,  and  a 
similar  plot  for  a  station  on  the  N,  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R,  The 
physical  labor  of  laying  out  and  grading  the  land  was  per- 
formed under  contract  by  one  O'Brien.  Though  it  was  planned 
to  have  all  streets  sixty  feet  wide  from  line  to  line,  the 
carriage-ways  to  be  thirty-six  feet,  and  the  side-walks  twelve 


Depressing  Track  of  the  N.  Y..  N.  H.  &  H.  R.  R. 
First  Street,  between  5th  and  fith  Avenues. 


feet  wide,  there  was,  on  the  26th  of  September,  1851,  for  some 
reason  unknown,  adopted  a  resolution  "that  each  member 
be  privileged  to  set  his  fence  five  feet  on  the  sidewalk,  still 
leaving  the  sidewalk  ten  feet  clear."  The  members  availed 
themselves  of  this  privilege,  which  necessarih'  resulted  in  re- 
ducing the  width  of  the  roadways  to  thirty  feet. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1851,  John  Stevens,  as  trustee, 
executed  one  thousand  deeds  conveying  to  the  individual 
members  of  the  association  the  lot  or  parcel  of  ground  chosen 
and  purchased  by  them  respectively,  and  as  shown  upon  the 
map  before  mentioned,  made  by  Andrew  Findlay  for  the  asso- 
ciation. The  records  show  that  on  the  6th  of  August,  1852, 
"the  Trustees  reported  that  the  deed  for  the  five  feet  in  front 
of  each  lot  could  not,  in  their  opinion,  be  given  to  the  owners, 
as  it  did  not  belong  to  the  Association."  At  the  time  of  the 
sale  and  division  of  the  property  of  the  association,  Mr. 
Stevens  became  the  purchaser  of  the  "  Purdy  Mansion,"  the 
most  valuable  house  then  located  upon  the  property,  for 
$2,650.  It  is  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and 
Fourth  street,  and  was  for  many  years  conspicuous  because 
of  a  large  elm  tree  which  was  upon  the  ground  north  of  the 
house,  in  the  lower  branches  of  which  was  built  a  platform 


Hastchesler  DocU, 

reached  by  steps  from  below.  As  the  tree  increased  in  size, 
it  was  strengthened  by  iron  bands  and  braces  to  better  sup- 


port the  balcony  that  surrounded  it ;  but  eventually  it  be- 
came unsafe  by  reason  of  age,  and  about  ten  years  ago  was 
cut  down,  leaving  perhaps  twenty  feet  of  its  trunk,  which 
still  remains  covered  by  creeping  vines.  There  were  but  three 
other  houses  on  the  property  purchased  by  the  association 
that  were  sold  for  a  sum  exceeding  a  thousand  dollars ;  they 
were :  lot  305,  with  the  house  thereon,  sold  to  Daniel  Man- 
sion for  $1,750;  lot  913,  with  the  house  thereon,  sold  to 
James  Coles  for  $1,125;  and  lot  839,  with  the  house  there- 
on,  sold  to  Andrew  Purdy  for  $1,025. 

Among  the  noteworthy  landmarks  of  those  early  days 
now  remaining,  is  the  old  stone  house  on  the  east  side  of 
Fourth  avenue,  north  of  Sixth  street,  the  property  of  William 
J.  Collins;  the  frame  house  on  Ninth  avenue  near  Second 
street,  which  belonged  to  one  of  the  Purdys ;  the  house  on 
Tenth  avenue  near  Second  street,  where  John  Oakley  for  many 
years  conducted  a  boarding  and  day  school,  and  the  old 
Searing  house  on  Eleventh  avenue,  first  owned  by  Daniel 
Searing,  one  of  the  patriots  of  the  Revolution.  The  surviving 
members  of  the  association  living  in  this  city  are  Sanford 
Hallock,  Sr.,  210  South  Fourth  avenue;  John  Lachenhauer, 
223  South  Twelfth  avenue;  Joseph  Tomlinson,  13  South 
Sixth  avenue,  and  J.  S.  Van  Court,  147  Stevens  avenue. 

The  last  report  of  the  secretary  of  the  association,  made 
on  the  6th  of  August,  1852,  shows  that  $106,859.08  had 
been  paid  in  by  members  and  received  from  sales  of  the  prop- 
erty.  Of  this  sum  about  $25,000  went  for  draining  and  grad- 


Suniniit  Avenue,  l^ookiii^;  Noi'lli  iTtnu  Suines  .\\'enue. 


ing,  while  the  remainder  represents  the  original  cost  of  the 
property  purchased  and  the  expenses  of  the  association. 

Proceedings  for  incorporation  were  begun  on  the  26th  of 
August,  1853,  at  which  date  a  census  showed  the  population 
to  be  1,370.  An  election  was  held  on  the  3d  of  December  of 
that  year,  at  the  cigar  store  of  William  McCafFe,  corner  of 
Third  avenue  and  Third  street,  to  get  an  expression  of  pub- 
lic sentiment  on  the  question  of  incorporation.  The  Inspectors 
of  Election  were  Amos  Cheeney,  William  Morse  and  Gilbert 
Morgan.  The  vote  was  eighty-two  in  favor  of  incorporation, 
and  fifty-two  opposed.  The  papers  were  filed  in  the  office  of 
the  Clerk  of  Westchester  County  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1853,  the  petition  being  signed  by  Stephen  Bogart,  Thomas 
Jones,  John  B.  Brennan,  Enoch  Douglass,  Amzi  Hill,  Henry 
Biggins,  John  Darrols  and  William  Wisdom,  the  first  named 
being  the  president  of  the  new  village  until  an  election  should 
be  held. 

West  Mount  Vernon  was  settled  almost  contemporaneously 
by  the  "Teutonic  Homestead  Association,"  composed  mainly 
of  Germans  to  the  number  of  five  hundred,  who  had  pur- 
chased 13iy2  acres  of  land  lying  between  the  northwestern 


(^HOKGIv  R.  CRAWI-'ORD. 


IIISTf)KV    OF    Mf)I'.\T  VERNON 


9 


bouiul.'iry  lino  ol  Mount  W'rnon  and  ihc  Hroux  river.  Several 
other  adjoining  settlements  followed  this,  as  Ivast  Mount 
Vernon,  Central  Mount  \'ernon,  I'lectwood  and  Chester  Hill. 
West  Mount  \'ernon  and  Central  Mount  \'ernoii  were  incor- 
porated as  one  village  in  18(59,  and  Christian  Koss  hecanie 
its  first  i)resideni.  lii  1878  West  Mount  \  ernon  was,  hy 
legislative  enaetnicni,  united  to  Mount  Vernon,  as  had  been 
done  at  an  earlier  date  with  East  Mount  Vernon.  Other 
additions  were  from  time  to  time  made  until  the  territory  em- 
braced within  the  area  of  Mount  \eriion  extended  Imni  liie 
Hutchinson  river  on  the  east,  to  the  Uronx  river  (jn  the  west, 
ami  from  the  northerly  line  of  New  York  City,  just  below  the 


to  take  an  active  jiart  in  |)ul)lic  affairs;  was  elected  President 
of  the  village  in  18(;i;  was  for  seveml  years  a  member  of  the 
School  Hoard,  and  served  twenty  years  as  Justice  of  the 
I'eace.  He  died  in  his  eightieth  year  while  on  a  visit  to  his 
son  in  I'lainfield,  N.  J. 

i'I().\i:i:rs  axd  f.aklv  si:ttli-:ks. 

When  the  Home  Industrial  Association  actjuired  the  prop- 
el ty  heretofore  described,  there  were  but  few  houses  on  it, 
and  the  adjoining  land  which  was  subse(|uentl\'  annexed  to 
.Mount  X'eriion  was  not  then  thickly  settled.   The  most  proni- 


South  I'^oiirth  Avcmu-  at  I'ourlh  Street, 
Mount   \cinon  Hospit.il. 


Arnior\'.  Co.  It..  I'irsl  Kf}.;iiiuMil  N,  ('...  N.  V. 

Martha  Wilson  1 1  onic.  i  ( )I<1  l.adics) 


Kingsbridge  road,  on  the  south,  to  the  northern-most  point 
of  the  town  of  Pelhaiii,  thence  westerly  along  a  line  exteiul- 
ing  across  the  town  of  liast  Chester  parallel  with  the  northern 
boundarv  line  of  New  York  City,  to  the  Bronx  river  on  tlie 
north. 

The  Home  Industrial  Association  held  ninetj'-six  meetings 
in  all,  the  last  being  on  the  fith  of  Hecember,  185-t.  Though 
the  regular  meetings  were  discontinued  in  March,  1852,  those 
subsecpiently  held  were  for  the  iiurpose  of  disposing  of  the 
remaining  interests  of  the  individual  members  of  the  asso- 
ciation in  the  projierty  not  before  deeded  to  them  by  Mr. 
Stevens  as  trustee. 

.Mr.  Stevens,  who  may  properh'  be  called  the  founder  of 
Mount  Vernon,  was  a  man  of  great  force  and  sterling  in- 
tegritv.     .\fter  the  incorporation  of  the  village  he  continued 


inent  of  the  residents  were:  Pavid  .\llerton,  who  liuilt  the 
house  and  owned  the  estate  on  the  White  Plains  road  now 
occu])ied  by  ex-Judge  Mills:  Charles  .\rcher,  for  whom  .\rcher 
avenue  was  named:  William  H.  Bard,  who  became,  and  con- 
tinueti  for  many  years  to  be,  the  leading  dealer  in  real  est.ite 
ill  the  town  of  Kast  Chester:  (George  tlould,  who  built  and  con- 
ducted the  Mount  Vernon  Hotel:  Joshua  Hunt,  who  owned 
a  large  tract  of  land,  including  the  familiar  "  Hunt's  woods," 
to  the  cast  of  which  the  old  homestead  still  stands :  Pelhani 
L.  McClellan,  who  became  the  first  village  clerk,  was  a  SujKr- 
visor  from  18()()  to  18()2,  and  was  elected  Pistrict  .\ttorney 
for  Westchester  County  in  18(>+:  Peter  Rich,  tor  whom  Rich 
avenue  was  named :  John  W.  Sageiiiaii,  who  gave  the  name  to 
Sagciiian's  corners,  and  John  L.  Straub,  the  lather  of  the 
present  City  Tre;isurer. 


10 


IT  T  S  T  O  R  Y 


()  F    M  ()  TT  X  T 


\'  I-:  R  N  ()  X 


Of  those  who  settled  or  were  horn  here  in  the  next  twenty- 
five  years,  and  who  Iiecanie  identified  in  one  wa}"  or  another 
with  Mount  Vernon's  progress,  may  be  mentioned: 

lames  M.  Anderson.  Minott  C.  Kellogg. 

(George  C.  Ai)i)ell.  Jessie  Lantz. 

Caleb  S.  Rabeoek.  Daniel  Lewis. 

Hr.  A.  T.  Banning.  Henry  Lohnian. 


Second  Avciuic.  I.ooUiiij;   North  tr'jiii  Fourth  Stiett. 


DEVELOPMENT. 

At  the  settling  of  Mount  \'ernon  a  post-office  was  located 
at  Hunt's  bridge,  then  outside  the  limits,  Joshua  Heustis 
being  the  first  postmaster.  In  a  short  time  the  office  was 
transferred  to  the  Mount  Vernon  Hotel  building.  A.  M.  Hix 
succeeded  Mr.  Heustis,  and  the  subsequent  postmasters  have 
been  George  Gould,  J.  S.  VanCourt,  Jackson  Hart,  Jonathan 
A  Searles,  Andrew  Bridgeman,  who  served  twenty-three  years, 
David  Quackinbush,  Henry  Huss,  Clarence  S.  McClellan  and 
David  O.  Williams,  the  present  incumbent. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1852,  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Industrial  Association  reported  that  three  hundred  houses 
had  been  erected  or  were  constructing.  In  that  year  Mount 
\  ernon  was  made  a  regular  station  on  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  & 
H.  K.  Since  then  the  growth  has  been  continuous  and  uninter- 
rupted. It  will  lie  expedient  to  fi^llow  Mount  Vernon's  expan- 
sion step  b\-  step,  placing  the  noteworthy  events,  so  far  as 
practicable,  in  chronological  order. 

1852.  A  public  school,  conducted  by  John  A.  Graves, 
was  located  on  the  second  floor  of  the  unfinished  house  of 
J.  L.  Guerin,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Third  street. 
A  few  months  later  it  was  removed  to  Journeau's  Hall,  at 
Fifth  avenue  and  Fourth  street.  In  the  autumn  was  begun 
the  erection  of  a  school-house  in  Fourth  avenue  near  Fourth 


George  L.  Baxter. 
Samuel  Bernstein. 
John  Berry. 
William  Braidwood. 
John  H.  Brett. 
Andrew  Bridgeman. 
Simeon  L.  Close. 
George  F.  Coleman. 
William  J.  Collins. 
George  K.  Crawford. 
Burr  Davis. 
John  M.  Dearborn. 
Jacob  Drews. 


Horace  Loomis. 
Philip  Lucas,  Jr. 
Gerd  Martens. 
Arthur  J.  McCarten. 
James  M.  Nelson. 
Charles  H.  Ostrander. 
William  H.  Pemberton. 
i^dward  L.  Phipjis. 
("lideon  D.  I'otid. 
David  (juackinbnsh. 
William  Saxtcm. 
Richard  Seder. 
Theodore  T,  \  lor. 


l.iiKohi  Avrmic.  Lookin^i  Wisl  IVoin  I''iiltoTi  Avcnm-. 


Alfred  H.  Dunconibe. 
William  P.  listerlirook. 
Donald  F'erguson. 
Azro  Fowler. 
Edward  Ga\-. 
Albert  F.  (^escheidt. 
Aaron  R.  Ilaight. 
William  Holdredge. 
John  I'.  Jar  vis. 
James  H.  Jenkins. 


Edward  I'nderhill. 
William  H.  \'anArs(lalc. 
Beekman  VanGaasbeck. 
John  \'anSantvoord. 
Joseph  Weber. 
Charles  H.  Weiss. 
Dr.  George  C.  Weiss. 
Max  Wintjen. 
Joseph  S.  Wood. 
I.  Frank  Wright. 


Fourth  Avciiuf.   L<tokin^  South  from  F'oiirth  Stret't. 

street.  A  separate  paper,  by  Mr.  Joseph  .S.  Wood,  treating 
of  our  schools,  constitutes  a  part  of  this  work. 

1855.  A  social  sjiirit  was  early  manifested  among  the 
settlers.  On  the  12th  of  January  was  fiirmed  the  Mount 
\ernon  Literary  Association,  with  Mr.  Pelham  L.  McClellan, 
I 'resident:  and  on  the  28th  of  February  the  .Mount  Vernon 
I  Ic)rticultural  Society  was  created,  with  Henry  Biggins,  Presi- 
(k-nt.  On  the  24-th  of  November  was  organized  Clinton  Hook 
&  Ladder  Company,  of  which  Drake  P.  Todd  was  elected 
foreman.  It  was  located  in  Third  street,  in  the  rear  of  Hal- 
lock's  bakehouse. 

1857.  John  Oakley  established  at  his  residence,  in  Tenth 
avenue,  near  Second  street,  a  select  boarding  and  day  school, 
which  he  conducted  until  1879.  On  the  25th  of  August, 
Hiawatha  Lodge  No.  434,  F.  &  A.  M.,  received  its  warrant 
of  dispensation,  and  its  charter  on  the  8th  of  June,  1858. 
Dedication  and  installation  of  officers  took  place  June  24th 
in  that  year.  William  M.  Palmer,  Jr.,  was  its  first  Master. 
Meetings  were  held  in  an  upper  room  of  Van  Court's  store. 
Its  present  officers  are  Samuel  N,  Hoag,  Master;  Elmer  F. 
Smith,  Senior  Warden;  Jarvis  W.  Mason,  Junior  Warden; 
Burr  Davis,  Treasurer,  and  Harry  R.  Lowe,  Secretary.  An 
association  was  formed  to  erect  a  building  with  steam  power 


HISTORY    OF    MOT  XT    V  Iv  K  \  O  X 


siiital)k'  for  inaiuitjK  tiiriiij:  purposes.  The  hiiildiii;^  was  located 
in  Sixth  avenue  soiitli  of  I'irst  street.  In  the  early  years  of 
the  Civil  War  it  was  occupied  ])y  Johnston  Ik  Dow  for  the 
production  of  cartridf;es ;  later,  and  until  \S(','.t,  Henj.nnin  \V. 
Tilton  used  it  as  a  carriaj^e  factoi  \  ;  next  came  Harrison, 
Bradford  &  Co.,  who  established  a  jjcn  factory  with  seventy- 
five  employees ;  J.  W.  Nichols  then  used  it  for  the  manufacture 
of  hats;  afterward  it  hecanie  a  storehousi'  and  salesroom  for 
huildinj^  materials,  and  finally  it  was  converted  into  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Martens  flats.  A  year  later  lidmund 
Iloole  erected  a  huildiii';  in  l-\)urth  avenue  for  the  manu- 
facture of  duplex  checks  and  railroad  stamps.  11c  met  with 
j^reat  success,  and  eventually  removed  his  I)usiness  to  New 
York. 


.\.  \  ..  N.  II.  ,v   II.  K.  K.  Si^iuon 
K;ist  First  Street,  West  IV.iin  Tliircl  Avciicie 

l.SG.S.  On  the  27tli  of  October  was  formed  Comijany  C, 
17th  Keffiment,  X.  O.,  with  forty-six  men,  of"  which  William 
S.  .McClellan  was  Captain,  A.  C.  Beardslev,  I'irst  Lieutenant, 
and  W.  II.  \'anCott,  Second  Lieutenant.  Its  armory  was  in 
Union  Hall,  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and  First  street.  It  was 
disbanded  in  Au;j:ust,  1868.  Several  other  comi)anies  were 
subsecjuenth'  formed,  none  of  which  now  exist  except  the 
Eleventh  Separate  Conipain-  Infantrj-,  N.  G.,  X.  Y.,  which  was 
orjjanized  on  the  14th  of  June,  1876,  as  a  Troop  of  Cavalry,  and 
Samuel  ( ).  ll.iwe  was  elected  its  Cajitain.  Its  ori^nal  armory 
was  in  I  nion  Hall.  In  October,  1881,  the  com]);iny  was 
reorfjanized  into  a  company  of  infantry  as  the  Ivleventh  Se])a- 
r.'itc  Company.  It  is  now  Company  B,  1st  Ke<iiment,  X.  Cr., 
X.  \'.  It  is  housed  in  a  fine  armory  in  north  I'ifth  avenue, 
and  its  officers  arc:   Captain,  M.   I".  Carmody;   I-'irst  Lieti- 


tenant,  Charles  Canlield;  Second  Lieutenant,  Walter  I».  C.or- 
ham.  The  actinfi:  Sur>,'eon  is  Hr.  H.  Ivu},'ene  Smith,  who  is 
on  the  repmenlal  staff  of  Col.  Robert  T.  Enimett. 

l.SCC).  "The  Wartbur^  <)ri)han  Farm  School"  of  the 
Ivvan^elical  Lutheran  Church  was  orj^anized,  thoufjh  it  was 
not  incorporated  until  ^x('l'J.  The  buildin^^s  erected  fi)r  the 
uses  of  the  institution  were  located  on  firound  purchased 
outside  the  village  limits,  but  which  is  now  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  present  city. 

18()7.  (ias  was  introduced,  and  distributed  from  a  jjlant 
erected  by  1.  Ivdward  Ireland.  .Mount  \ernon  Lodgf,  Xo. 
1 ',>.■),  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted,  with  Thomas  K.  Jones  as 
X.  (i.,  anil  John  11.  Jcnnin;,^s  as  \'.  C.  The  present  officers 
arc:  N.  G.,  Thomas  II.  Hodge;  Y.  G.,  William  Moebus;  Ke- 


1 


M.irtiiK  HinUlin); 
Hast  First  Street   trmn  City  II.'ill 

cordinii  Secretary,  John  Lambert;  Financial  Secretary,  John 
II.  Jenninfis,  and  Treasurer,  James  B.  Spicer.  .\  German 
lodf^e — liinheit — was  formed  eleven  years  later. 

ISIJS.  .Mount  \ernon  Chajiter  .No.  22S,  K.  .A.  .M.,  insti- 
tuted under  a  dispensation  of  10th  of  June,  1S()8,  was  con- 
stituted nn  the  l,->tli  of  I'ebruary,  ISC)',),  with  John  H.  C.ray 
as  first  lliu'li  I'riest.  It  is  now  officered  ;is  follows:  High 
Priest,  ICdwin  L.  Loudon;  King,  Samuel  N.  H(»ag;  Scribe, 
Joseiili  Tonilinson;  Treasurer,  Burr  Davis,  and  Secretary, 
C.  F.  Sherman. 

1871.  Bethlehem  Coniniandery  No.  ,->3,  Knights  Templar, 
was  organized  under  dispensation  of  8th  May,  1871,  at  Xew 
Rochelle,  receiving  its  warrant  in  October  fidlowing.  The 
Kev.  Willi;uii  S.  Cofley  was  the  first  Ivminent  Commander. 
It  was  removed,  by  jiuthoriiy,  to  .Mount  \'ernon,  17th  of  Sc])- 


14 


HIST  ()  R  Y   OF   iM  O  U  N  T   V  E  K  X  O  N 


tcmher,  188(5.  It  has  a  unique  and  a])propriate  asvluni  in 
the  building  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and 
First  street.  It  is  constructed  to  represent  the  courtyard  of 
a  castellated  structure  of  the  middle  ages,  having  its  ancient 
gateway,  massive  walls,  towers,  l)attlements  and  turrets,  with 
ivy-grown  windows,  etc.  This  realistic  work,  and  the  success 
of  the  organization,  are  due  to  the  efforts  of  Past  Com- 
mander George  K.  Crawford  and  his  zealous  associates.  The 
present  officers  are :  Eminent  Commander,  Daniel  Lewis ; 
(ieneralissimo,  J.  Caleb  Fisher;  Captain-General,  Theodore 
Taylor;  Senior  Warden,  Charles  VV.  Heusted ;  Junior  Warden, 
Samuel  N.  Hoag;  Prelate,  Edwin  L.  Loudon;  Treasurer, 
Charles  A.  Ilodgman,  and  Recorder,  .Edgar  T.  Stewart. 


1880.  The  Chronicle  building  was  erected  by  Jose])h  S. 
Wood  on  the  east  side  of  Fourth  avenue.  To  the  efforts  of 
Mr.  Wood  is  largely  due  the  establishment  of  I'elham  Bay 
Park.  Farnsworth  Post  No.  170,  G.  A.  K.,  was  organized 
21st  of  July.  Its  present  officers  are:  Commander,  Henr\'  E. 
Rhoades ;  Senior  \'ice-Conimander,  J.  L.  D.  Riker;  Junior 
Vice-Commander,  Henry  Lilly ;  Adjutant,  William  P.  Sleight ; 
Quartermaster,  N.  VanHorson;  Surgeon,  J.  Q.  A.  Hollister; 
Chaplain,  Charles  N.  VanCourt ;  Officer  of  the  Day,  A.  Good- 
enough;  Guard,  Ernest  Grube ;  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  Will- 
iam Wilson,  Jr.,  and  Sergeant-Major,  William  A.  Anderson. 
The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  on  the 
2-tth  of  Octoljer,  though  it  was  not  incorporated  until  the 


187,'!.  On  the  Mh  ol  October  occurred  a  fire  at  First 
street  and  Fourth  avenue  which  destroyed  sixteen  buildings, 
including  three  hotels.  The  loss  was  estimated  to  exceed 
$125,000,  while  the  insuraiuc  was  less  than  $7(i,0()(l.  In  that 
year  John  Berry  erected  tlu'  building  on  the  west  side  of 
I'%)urth  avenue,  now  occui)ie(l  by  Genung  iS;  McArdle.  At  the 
time  of  its  construction  it  was  the  most  ]  netent  ic  jus  biiildini; 
in  the  village. 

187.').  (hiiding  Star  lincamiimenl  No.  8,'l,  1.  ( ).  ( ).  F., 
was  chartered  on  lOth  of  I-'ebruary.  Its  officers  are:  C.  1'., 
ivdmund  A.  Knight:  II.  P.,  George  Bedell;  S.  W.,  William 
Robertson;  Recording  Scribe,  A.  Murray  Jenks;  Financial 
Scribe,  John  II.  Jennings;  J.  W.,  Thomas  II.  Hodge,  and 
Treasurer,  Henrv  Rabe. 


Si.  I'.iurs  Cliuiili,  i;pisi.'o|i,-il 

2Sili  III  July,  iss,").  jdhn  nSa iilvoord  was  its  first  jjresi- 
(lent.* 

18S2.  The  Mount  X'enion  Water  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated to  I'urnisli  the  village  with  water.  The  supply  was 
derived  from  a  well  oOO  feet  deep  sunk  in  .Seventh  Avenue 
near  Third  Street,  with  a  ca])acity  of  72.000  gallons  a  day. 
In  188G  this  company  was  .-disorbed  by  the  N.  \ .  t<:  M.  \'. 
Water  Co.,  which  secured  its  supply  from  the  Hutchinson 
River,  providing  a  reservoir  at  Pelhaniville  with  a  storage 
capacity  of  20.000.000  gallons.  The  last  company  was 
succeeded  by  the  N.  V.  City  Suburban  Water  Company  in 
1891,  which  increased  the  supply  by  actpiiring  the  "Tom 
Paine"  brook,  where  was  constructed  an  additional  reservoir 


*  A  local  newspaper,  several  years  afio,  jjavc  the  date  ol  orfranizalion,  1st  of  October,  liul  tlic  writer  lias  followed  the  text  of  llie 

Kcv.  I>r.  Coffey's  sketcli. 


MINOT    C.  Ki;i,l,()C.l'. 


IIISTOKV    O  I-    MOUXT    V  F.  K  X  O  X 


17 


of  88.000, ()()()  j^allons  capacity.    In  1SU4- \v;is  adoijtcd  a 
rifvinji  jjroccss  bv  aeration  and  sand  (iltr;ition.  The  title  of  the 
existin-i:  company  i.s  the  .\e\v  York  Intcr-rrl)an  Water  Coni- 
l)anv,  which  accpiircd  all  pro])erty  and  rij,dits  of  its  predecessors 
on  the  2Sth  Xovenil)er,  l'.)Ol. 

1884.  The  Armory  for  the  Ivlcvcnth  Separate  Company, 
now  Company  B,  was  built  at  I-'ifth  avenue  and  North  street- 

1885.  The  jjopnlalion  of  tlie  viiia;,'e  was  found  to  be 
5,5(>0. 

1887.    This  _vear  broni^ht  the  Chester  Hill  district  to  the 


Si-i'oiul  Sli^ci,  i.iciUni.;  tisi  iioin  sih  A  vuiiin'. 

fore.  In  the  years  18(58-9,  Mr.  Charles  Crary,  of  New  York, 
bought  several  farms  a{if<jre<iatin<^  about  150  acres,  and  lying 
north  of  the  X.  Y.,  N.  il.  &  H.  K.  tracks,  south  of  the  White 
Plains  road,  and  between  Columbus  avenue -and  what  is  now 
known  as  Crary  avenue.  The  average  cost  to  Mr.  Crary  was 
less  than  $500  an  acre.    The  was  nia])]icd  out  into  lots 

and  streets,  and  some  grading  and  road -making  was  done. 
Within  the  next  eighteen  years  perhaps  fifteen  or  twenty  un- 
jiretentious  houses  were  built  vi])on  the  tract,  the  ])urehasers 
paying  from  .$500  to  $700  each  for  their  lots.  In  1887  Col. 
Herman  I letnicbergcr,  ,'dso   of  New   York,    bought  eighteen 


acres  of  land  north  of  the  White  Plains  road,  and  east  ol 
I-'^ourth  avenue,  for  about  $S()0  an  acre.  Immediately  there 
began  a  boom  for  real  estate  in  that  vicinity.  The  Ilenne- 
bergcr  tract,  or  most  of  it,  became  known  as  \'illa  Park,  and 
that,  together  with  the  "Conklin  &  Chivvis,"  the  Josephs. 
Wood,"  and  the  "  J.  Prank  Wright"  i)l()ts  were  o])ened  up  for 
sale,  and  were  known  as  additions  to  Chester  Hill,  which  had 
originallv  comprised  the  area  bounded  by  the  White  Plains 
road,  the  X.  Y.  &  X.  II.  tracks,  Park  and  Summit  avenues. 
The  "  Porster"  ;ind  Corcoran  .Manor  plots  were  soon  put  ujion 


the  market.  To-day  that  entire  territory,  including  of  course 
the  Crary  tract,  abounds  with  fine  residences  costing  from 
$5,000  to  $.'55,000  each.  Lots  of  fifty  feet  front,  when  they 
can  be  bought,  readily  bring  $.'{,500  each,  or  at  the  rate  of 
$28,000  an  acre;  and  the  lands  on  the  northeast,  uj)  to  the 
city  line,  ;ire  being  ra])idly  developed  with  a  view  of  sui)i)ly- 
ing  the  demand  f>r  eligible  building  sites  in  that  vicinity. 
Several  years  later,  \'ernon  Heights,  ;i  section  lying  south 
of  liast  Third  street,  and  east  of  Coknnbus  avenue,  was 
opened  u|)  for  im])rovement.  Lots  have  sold  well;  nuiny  fine 
houses  have  been  built,  and  the  tract  is  regarded  as  a  close 
rival  of  Chester  Hill.  The  Dearborn  building,  on  the  east  side 
of  l-'ourth  avenue,  was  erected,  and  soon  thereafter  the  ui)i)er 
floors  were  occupied  by  the  village  ofliccs. 

188S.  There  was  laid  f)n  the  Nth  of  December  the  corner- 
stone of  a  fine  building  erected  for  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association.  It  was  finished  and  dedicated  on  the  1st  of 
October,  ISS'.).    1 1  is  in  Fourth  <'i venue  north  of  Second  street. 

IS'JO.  On  the  l.Sth  of  January  there  was  a  meeting  of 
citizens,  from  which  was  apjiointed  a  committee  to  draft  a 
constitution  and  by-laws  for  a  proposed  association  to  secure 
the  establishment  of  a  hosj)ital  in  .Mount  \'ernon.  At  a  later 
meeting  the  constitution  and  by-laws  re])orted  were  adopted, 
and  officers  elected,  who  were  cheered  by  the  announcement 


.\rc"lK-r  A  vt-mic.  looking  iiorili  Irom  I'litsiiccl  Avl-ihk-. 


that  $1,500  had  alreadj*  been  subscribed  toward  the  Mount 
X'crnon  Ivmergcncv  IIosj)ital.  .\  buihling  owned  by  Col.  Henry 
Huss,  ;it  \'alciitinc  street  ;ind  Seventh  avenue,  was  hired  at 
a  nominal  rent,  ;ind  was  ready  tor  the  reception  of  patients 
on  the  21st  of  May.  Subsetiueiitly  contributions  from  various 
sources  added  to  the  association's  funds.  .Miss  Martha  Wilson 
gave  to  the  extent  of  $10,000;  others  did  as  their  means 
permiiied;  a  fair  held  in  the  winter  of  1 8',)1  yielded  $1,500 
net,  so  that  the  Board  of  .Managers  was  encouraged  to  jilan 
for  a  new  building,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  kiid  on 
the  22(1  of  I'ebruary,  1803.  It  was  completed  in  Se]>tem))er 
of  that  year,  at  a  cost  of  about  $H),00().  Immediately  u|)on 
its  oceui)aney  the  jniblie  was  invited  to  inspect  the  Imilding, 
and  incidentally  to  aid  the  success  of  a  fair  then  in  jirogress 
for  the  benefit  of  the  hospital.  It  yielded  $5,500.  The  build- 
ing  is  located  on  Seventh  avenue  north  of  \  alentine  street. 
Last  year,  through  the  liberality  of  Charles  Hill  Willsou,  there 
was  built  an  extensive  addition,  comprising  rooms  for  jiatients 
and  nurses,  and  a  diet-kitchen  ;is  well  as  a  sitting-room  for 
the  use  of  nur.ses.  He  also  fitted  up,  in  the  original  builil- 
ing,  in  memory  of  his  mother,  a  completely  furnished  room 
to  be  known  as  the  ".Mary  Hill  Willson"  room.  The  physi- 
cians of  the  city  cheerfully  render  gratuitous  service  to  the 
liosi)ital.    The  managers  h.ave  the  assistance  and  co-oi>eralion 


IS 


HISTORY   OF   MOUNT  VERNON. 


of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary,  an  organization  eifected  in  May, 
1901.  It  is  composed  of  many,  indeed  a  greater  part,  of  the 
public-spirited  women  of  the  city,  who  render  valuable  service 
through  their  several  committees.  The  President  of  the  Aux- 
iliary is  Mrs.  Cornelius  McLean,  who  is  ably  assisted  by  ear- 
nest associate  officers.  There  is,  in  addition,  a  Junior  Auxili- 
ary, comprising  the  sympathetic  young  girls  of  the  city,  who 
do  their  part  by  supplying  books  and  flowers.  The  managers 
of  the  hospital  are  James  M.  Anderson,  John  Clawson,  Will- 
iam D.  Howe  and  Maitland  B.  Sloat.  The  hospital  is  not  a 
city  institution,  and  does  not  derive  its  revenue  from  the  city 
treasury.  The  work  is  dependent  upon  the  contributions  of 
citizens  whose  humane  impulse  leads  them  to  aid  the  cause, 
or  who  are  impelled  by  local  pride  to  assist  the  maintenance 
of  so  laudable  an  undertaking. 


Willi  am  J,  Paskett  and  Dr.  Edward  P.  Brush,  The  Finance 
Committee  received  prompt  subscriptions  from  public-spirited 
citizens  to  the  amount  of  $1,950,  which  encouraged  the  pro- 
jectors to  believe  that  the  total  sum  necessary  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  suitable  monument  would  ultimately  be  sub- 
scribed; and  this  was  confirmed  by  the  assurance  of  Charles 
Hill  Willson,  who  advised  the  monument  committee  toproceed 
with  the  work,  and  he  would  make  good  any  deficiency.  The 
monument,  a  notable  example  of  its  kind,  was  erected,  and 
dedicatory  exercises  took  place  on  Memorial  Day,  1891.  The 
Rev.  Oliver  Dyer  presided.  The  address  was  delivered  by  ex- 
Postmaster-General  Thomas  L.  James.  Farnsworth  Post, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  many  other  local  organizations  participated 
in  the  ceremonies,  which  were  in  charge  of  Charles  M.  Mc)se- 
man  as  Grand  Marshal,  and  which  were  made  especially  at- 


A  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  on  the  13th  of  June, 
at  the  residence  of  John  VanSantvoord,  to  form  an  asso- 
ciation having  in  view  the  erection  in  Mount  Vernon  of  a 
monument  to  the  memory  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who 
had  offered  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  Union.  The  following 
officers  were  elected :  President,  Charles  M.  Moseman ;  First 
Vice-President,  Charles  Hill  Willson ;  Second  Vice-President, 
Rev.  Oliver  Dyer;  Treasurer,  John  VanSantvoord;  Secretary, 
Prank  Gorham,  and  Corresponding  Secretary,  Charles  J. 
Chatfield.  Subsequent  meetings  of  the  association  were  held 
at  the  house  of  Henry  Huss,  48  Valentine  street.  Committees 
were  appointed  as  follows :  Finance  Committee,  John  N. 
I^ockhart,  John  Berry,  John  M.  Dearborn,  Dr.  S.  L  Close 
and  Gouverneur  Rogers.  Monument  Committee,  Henry  Hnss, 


ractive  by  the  admirable  singing  of  the  school  children,  uu- 
er  the  leadership  of  Alfred  Hallam.  The  monument  is  located 
at  Sixth  avenue  and  Valentine  street,  upon  a  plot  of  ground 
purchased  from  Col.  Huss  at  a  fraction  of  its  value.  The  base 
of  the  monument,  ten  feet  high,  is  of  granite.  The  bronze 
figure  surmounting  it  is  of  a  typical  American  soldier.  It  is 
8  feet  high;  was  designed  by  Karl  Gerhard,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and  was  cast  at  Chicopee,  Mass.  Beneath  the  monu- 
ment, at  its  erection,  was  placed  a  copper  box  containing 
memoranda  of  the  personnel  of  the  several  committees,  a  list 
of  the  contributors,  copies  of  M.  V.  and  N.  Y.  newspapers,  a 
small  silk  American  flag,  Indian  arrow-heads,  flint  for  flint- 
lock muskets,  percussion-caps,  modern  cartridges,  continental 
money,  confederate  notes,  greenbacks,  and  a  history  of  the 


(iBOKGlv  llAVIvS. 


HISTORY    ()  !•    MOrXT  VI-:KX()X 


21 


IIduk'  Iiuluslri.'il  Association  whioli  louiukd  Mount  \'(.Tnon. 
The  monument  was  suitably  inscribed  ii\u>u  its  erection:  l)ut 
several  years  later,  throuf^h  the  eflorts  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
this  additional  inscrii)tion  was  placed  on  the  west  tablet : 
"This  tablet  is  inscribed  to  the  noble  women  who  from  home, 
hospital  and  lield,  contributed  to  the  iireservation  of  the 
I  nioii."  On  the  grounds  surroundinf^  the  monument  are  two 
eij^ht-iiieh  howitzers,  and  cijjhty  ten-inch  shells,  the  latter 
piled  in  pyramids.  These  were  obtained,  in  ISOT,  at  Covern- 
or's  Island  throufjh  the  flood  offices   of  the    lion.    Hen.  L. 


Fairchild,  then  Conjjressman  from  this  district. 

An  elaborate  electric  plant  was  installed  at  Xortli  Kail- 
road  avenue  and  Howard  street,  to  sup])ly  the  villaf;e  with 
additional  li-rht.  On  the  lOth  of  Xovember  was  orf^anized 
Oolden  Rod  Council,  No.  1,31(>,  Royal  Arcanum,  with  twenty- 
six  members.  It  now  has  a  membership  of  more  than  six  hun- 
dred. Its  present  officers  are:  Rcf^ent,  Stejiheii  VanTassel: 
Vice-Rej,'ent,  T.  B.  Graham:  Orator,  H.  I).  Duncan:  Past 
Rci^ent,  H.  K.  Keller;  Treasurer,  Edward  W.  Storms:  Cha])- 
lain,  T.  \V.  Robinson:  Guide,  A.  A.  Haring:  Warden,  T.  \V. 


Rose;  Sentry,  F.  (irabofski ;  Secretary,  .\.  \V.  Bertine;  Col- 
lector, \V.  .\I.  Ruschhaupt,  and  Medical  Hxaminer,  S.  Oscar 
.Myers,  M.  I). 

1891.  The  Mount  Vernon  Turn  Verein  was  formed.  It  has 
become  a  prosperous  and  popular  orjjanization,  with  a  wcll- 
equijiped  club-house  and  hall  at  Tenth  and  Stevens  avenues.  On 
the  10th  of  Octol)er  was  incorporated  the  ".Martha  Wilson 
Home,"  and  on  the  24-th  of  November  following  .Miss  M.-irt ha 
Wilson  presented  to  the  Board  of  Directors,  in  trust,  a  deed 
of  the  i)ro])erty  at  the  corner  of  Franklin  .avenue  ;ind  I'nion 


l-ane,  com|)rising  .'i  plot  ol  1  S(j  by  20.")  liel,  with  a  large 
house.  Subsc(|uently  she  jturchased  and  presented  an  addi- 
tional lot,  making  the  frontage  20.">  leet.  She  also  endowed 
the  home  to  the  amount  of  $2(i,000.  h  is  for  the  shelter 
and  c.'ire  ol  old  Ladies. 

1S'j2.  This  was  ;in  eventful  ye;ir  in  local  history.  .As 
early  ;is  1  S'.)0  there  w;is  discussed  the  proposition  to  secure 
a  city  charter  for  the  then  growing  village  of  fifteen  thousand 
inhal)itants.  It  was  thought  to  have  outgrown  its  swaddling- 
clothes,  and  to  be  fitted  for  the  m;iture  g;irb  of  cityhood. 
In  the  following  year  .Messrs.  George  C.  .\])]r11,  ICdgar  K. 
Brown  and  .Milo  J.  White,  aided  and  counselled  by  others, 
pre])ared  an  act  of  incor])oration,  which  wjis  submittefl  to  the 
vill.-ige  officers  <'ind  by  them  ;i])proved.  It  was  [jresented  to 
the  Legislature  in  1S'.I2,  and  on  the  2')ih  of  I'ebruary  was 
f.'ivorably  rejjorled.  In  .March  an  election  was  held  in  the 
room  of  the  Bo;ird  ol  Trustees  to  gel  an  ex|)ression  ot  ])ublie 
sentiment  on  the  proj)osition.  The  vote  was  largely  in  favor 
of  the  bill,  which  was  prom])ily  enacted,  and  received  the 
ai)proval  of  Governor  Flower  on  the  22d  of  that  month. 

The  first  election  under  the  new  charter  was  held  on  the 
17th  of  .May  following,  and  the  officers  chosen  were:  Mayor, 
lidward  F.  Brush,  .M.D. ;  City  Judge,  George  C.  Appell :  City 
Treasurer,  Clarence  S.  McClellan ;  Receiver  of  Taxes,  John 


¥1 


I'uUtin  A  \fmic.  IdoIvIii.;.;  nni-ili  Iroiii  I.iiKolii  .\\fiiiK-. 

II.  Brett;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  William  II.  Bard;  Sujiervisor, 
John  Thurton;  Assessors,  John  H.  Cordes,  Richard  Seder, 
Chas.  II.  Weiss:  Aldermen,  Chas.  F.  Bruning,  (nistavus  Kess- 
Icr,  Thco.  Taylor,  Fred.  .Mager,  William  A.  .\nderson,  David 
C.  Curtis,  Charles  11.  Johnson,  .\lbert  S.  Jenks,  Richard  B. 
Cassebeer  and  Samuel  J.  Johnson. 

.Mayor  Brush's  appointees  were:  James  P.  Hayes,  City 
Clerk;  I-^rederick  S.  Odell,  Commissioner  of  Public  Works; 
Frank  N.  Glover,  Counsel  to  the  Corporation;  Stuart  B. 
Carlisle,  .M.D.,  Health  Officer;  Caleb  S.  Babcock,  Commis- 
sioner of  Charities;  Jeremiah  C.  Foley,  Chief  of  Police ;  J.  N. 
Loekhart,  lulson  Lewis  and  Frank  G.  Bruce,  I'ire  Commis- 
sioners. At  the  election  four  years  later  .\d;un  I-'.  Schatz 
succeeded  George  C.  .Vppell  as  City  Judge,  .-ind  the  former, 
at  the  expiration  of  his  term,  gave  place  to  I'r.'ink  .\.  Ben- 
nett. Tracks  were  l.-iid  and  trolley  ears  run  thereon  between 
Mount  X'ernoii  and  New  York. 

lS<j;5.  In  framing  the  city  charter  the  old  Fnion  l-'rec 
School  districts  of  the  town  ot'  l--ast  Chester  were  left  undis- 
turbed, hence  there  was  no  aiitonomy  in  the  school  system  of 
the  new  city.  In  tlie  winter  of  lSil,'{  the  writer  prepared  a 
bill  providing  for  the  consolid.-ition  of  the  several  school  dis- 
tricts, ;ind  authorizing  the  esl.'iblishmcnt  of  ;i  liigh  school. 
The  bill  was  submitted  to  a  conimiiiee  composed  of  members 


II  I  S  T  O  R  V 


( )  F   M  C)  U  N  T  VERNON 


of  the  Coniiiion  Council  and  representatives  from  the  fotir 
school  districts.  In  the  conference  a  few  changes  were  made 
which  weakened  rather  than  improved  the  measure;  it  was 
then  sent  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  enacted  in  January, 
1894. 

I  j)  to  this  time  the  trains  of  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  H.  K.  K. 
had  run  through  the  village  and  city  at  grade,  the  track 
crossings  being  protected  by  drop-bars.  The  original  station 
was  at  the  southwest  corner  of  First  street  and  Fourth  avenue. 
When  that  became  inadequate  an  unsightly  brick  building 


Reads  Mill. 


was  erected  on  the  north  side  of  First  street,  between  Third 
and  Fourth  avenues,  where  it  stood  as  an  e\-esore  for  nuun* 
years.  This  year  the  Company  depressed  the  tracks,  put- 
ting iron  bridges  over  them  where  necessary  at  street  cross- 
ings. It  also  acquired  the  Burton  projierty,  extending  from 
its  tracks  north  to  Prospect  avenue,  and  from  First  to  Third 
avenue.  Thereon  was  built  an  attractive  station  surrcjinided 
by  ample  ground,  and  the  monstrosity  on  First  street  wjis 
demolished.  Land  was  also  secured  for  a  freight  yard  extend- 
ing from  First  to  Fulton  avenue. 

1894-.    In  September  was  established  the  Mount  Vernon 


Scaton  I'iills. 


High  School  as  the  result  of  permissive  legislation.  There 
was  some  opposition  to  the  plan,  as  there  always  is  to  any 
measure,  however  meritorious.  Several  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education  were  either  openly  or  covertly  opposed  to  the 
project,  and  sought  to  dela\'  its  execution,  but  the  preponder- 
ance of  ])ublic  sentiment  was  so  manifestly  in  favor  of  edu- 
cational progress  that  the  obstructionists  were  forced  to  yield, 
and  the  school  was  opened  in  the  Chester  Hill  school-house. 


with  Professor  Abial  B.  Davis,  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
educators  in  the  State,  as  the  principal. 

There  was  a  sentiment  among  some  of  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  citizens  that  Mount  X'ernon  should  be 
annexed  to  the  city  of  New  York.  Other  members  of  the 
community,  equally  well  intentioned,  opposed  the  plan.  Pub- 
lic meetings  were  held  and  the  question  was  discussed  from 
all  points  of  view.  Finally  it  was  submitted  to  the  people 
for  settlement,  and  a  feeling  of  local  pride  led  them  to  decide 
by  a  majority  of  730  votes  against  union. 

1897.  A  building  for  the  use  of  the  High  School  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $65,000.  It  is  a  suitable  and  well-equipped 
structure,  located  on  the  east  side  of  Fourth  avenue,  north 
of  Fourth  street. 

1898.  Edwin  J.  Lucas  erected  a  building  extending  from 
Third  to  Fourth  avenue— two  hundred  feet — for  the  uses  of 
the  nninicipalit3',  and  upon  its  completion  most  of  the  two 
upper  floors  were  occupied  by  the  several  departments  of  the 
city  government.  It  is  situated  just  north  of  the  tracks  of 
the  N.  v.,  N.  H.  &  H.  R.,  and  a  street  in  front  of  it,  known 
as  Depot  Place,  was  opened  by  Mr.  Lucas  and  ceded  to  the 
city. 

1901.  The  city  acquired  as  a  gilt  from  Edward  Hartley, 
for  use  as  a  public  park,  a  ]5lot  of  about  five  acres  of  land 
bounded  by  East  Lincoln  avenue,  Crary  avenue,  North  street 
£ind  Fourth  avenue.    Some  preliminar}  work  has  been  done 


ML.   Xci'iioii    I'uiuiiiii^i  StJition  N.  \',  Iriler-l'i  Ikiii  W.ilcr  Co. 

upon  the  tract,  and  it  is  hoped  in  the  near  future  to  have 
it  properly  fitted  for  the  purpose  designed.  A  building  used 
as  a  scIkxjI  and  chapel  on  the  Wartburg  farm  was  totalh' 
destroyed  by  fire  on  the  29th  of  November.  The  estimated 
loss  was  15,000.  There  was  insurance  to  the  amount  of 
$9,500. 

1902.  There  was  passed  by  both  branches  of  the  Legis- 
lature a  bill  authorizing  the  construction  of  a  viaduct  over 
the  depression  in  Mount  \'ernon  avenue,  from  about  High 
street  to  the  Yonker's  line,  crossing  the  tracks  of  the  New 
York  Central  railroad,  which  runs  through  the  city  at  grade. 
For  some  reason  not  clear  to  the  projectors  of  the  measure 
it  was  vetoed  by  Governor  Odell,  and  the  city  was  thus  de- 
prived of  a  needed  improvement,  and  one  that  would  have 
conduced  to  the  safety  of  its  people.  The  New  York  Infant 
Asylum,  which  had  long  been  located  on  the  White  Plains 
road,  south  of  the  city  line,  closed  its  doors,  removing  the 
inmates  to  other  institutions.  The  property,  comprising 
about  fifty  acres,  was  bought  by  a  syndicate  with  a  view  of 
development,  and  to  be  sold  in  lots  for  high-class  residences. 
It  is  to  be  known  as  Alameda  Park. 

The  affairs  of  the  municipality  were  not  conducted  with- 


IIOX.    ISAAC    i\.  MILLS. 


IIISTOKV    OP    MOT  XT    V  H  K  \  O  N 


25 


out  sonic  friction.  The  election  of  Mayor  Ivdson  Lewis  in 
1894  was  contested  by  his  opponent,  Ivdwin  W.  I'iske,  and 
after  a  protracted  Icfjal  strug<;le,  the  final  decision  of  the 
court  was  that  Mayor  Lewis  had  been  elected  by  a  majority 
of  two  votes.  Two  years  later  Mr.  I'iske  was  ajiain  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate  for  mayor,  and  thou^^h  the  city  had  become 
stron^^ly  Republican,  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  more 
than  five  hundred  votes.    This  result  was  considered  an  ex- 


Central   Hose  Co.  No.  -i.    Truck  Co.  N'o.  2 

pression  of  public  disa])proval  of  the  outcome  of"  the  jircvious 
election.  Since  then  Mavor  Fiske  has  been  re-elected  three 
consecutive  times,  thouj^h  his  last  election,  in  1891,  was  con- 
tested by  ex-.Mayor  Edward  F.  Brush;  but  after  several  hear- 
ings and  decisions  upon  the  various  sep;irate  issues  raised 
by  counsel  on  both  sides,  it  was  made  manifest  that  Mayor 
Fiske's  majority  as  shown  by  the  returns  could  not  be  over- 
come,  and  the  suit  was  drop]X'd.    In  1S9S,  Mayor  I'iske's 


Clinton  II.  and  L.  Co.    Nia.i;ara  Most' Co, 

active  political  opponents,  disturbed  by  his  reiieated  suc- 
cesses at  the  polls,  sought  to  have  him  impeached  for  alleged 
misconduct  in  office.  Elaborate  charges  prepared  by  astute 
counsel  were  presented  to  Governor  Roosevelt,  and  by  him 
referred  to  the  Attorney  General  for  an  opinion.  That  olli- 
cer  reported  that  the  charges  were  not  such  as  to  call  for  a 
further  investigation,  and  that  if  sustained  they  would  not 
be  sufficiently  grave  to  justify   the  Mayor's  removal  from 


olfice.  Three  years  later  the  Republican  politicians  framed 
and  submitted  to  the  Legislature— then  strongly  Republican— 
a  bill  to  make  .Mayor  I'iske  ineligible  for  re-election:  but 
public  sentiment  was  so  manifestly  against  the  scheme  that 
in  January,  1901,  at  a  hearing  by  the  Senate  Committee  on 
Cities,  Senator  -Mills  aniKjunced  that  he  withdrew  the  objection- 
able clause.  Of  the  remaining  features  of  the  projjosed  act 
the  most  important  was  a  provision  to  change  the  lime  for 
municipal  elections  from  May  to  .November.  Though  this, 
too,  was  a  move  wholly  in  the  interest  of  the  Republican 
party,  it  became  a  law,  and  the  next  charter  election  was 
deferred  until  November,  1901. 

Ivarly  in  1902,  Alderman  James  P.  Hayes  submitted  to 
the  Common  Council  a  resolution,  which  was  adopted  by 
the  Repuljlican  majority,  directing  an  investigation  of  all  the 
departments  of  the  cit^'  government  from  the  beginning  of 
Mayor  Fiske's  administration.  The  resolution  prescribed  no 
limit  as  to  time  or  cost.  Accordingly,  Samuel  D.  Patterson, 
an  expert  accountant,  was  emjiloyed  :  he  hired  several  assist- 
ants, and  the  work  began.  Meantime  the  .Mayor  suggested 
that  if  it  was  intended  to  make  the  investigation  thorough 
and  non-partisan,  it  should  cover  the  terms  i>f  his  ])redeces- 


I n(!e]n.'nilc:n  Ilosc  Co.  No.  1! 

S  Drs  ill  olfice  as  well  as  his  own.  A  resolution  to  thatvcfiect 
was  finally  adopted. 

.\s  the  work  progressed  with  no  definite  result  other  than 
heavy  drafts  upon  the  city  treasury,  a  feeling  of  public  dis- 
satisfaction was  aroused;  citizens,  outside  the  office-holding 
or  office-seeking  class,  protested  ag;iiiist  an  exj)enditure  which 
they  deemed  unnecessary  and  wasteful.  So  widespread  became 
this  sentiiiient  that  in  December,  Mark  D.  Stiles,  chairman 
of  the  Republican  city  committee,  took  it  upon  himself  to 
call  a  meeting  of  taxpayers  to  discuss  the  situation.  There 
it  was  made  known  that  the  cost  of  the  investigation  was 
$125  a  day,  and  Josejih  S.  Wood,  a  clear-headed  statistician 
and  a  large  taxpayer,  demonstrated  that,  based  upon  the 
time  already  consumed,  the  expense  incurred  and  the  results 
attained,  the  completion  of  the  work  would  reciiiire  seven 
years,  and  would  cost  $2oO,000.  Charles  Hill  Willson,  also 
a  large  landowner,  as  well  as  a  prominent  Re]iublican,  was 
eciually  ]ironounced  in  his  disajiproval.  .■Mderman  Hayes 
could  make  no  jiredietion  as  to  the  duration  of  the  investi- 
gation, hut  thought  the  cost  would  not  exceed  $;?0,000,  and 
the  only  achievement  he  would  |ironiise  was  that  we  would 
"know  where   we   were   ;it."     The  nieelinc  w;is  not  l;irgclv 


2G 


HISTORY   OF   MOUNT  VERNON. 


attended,  possibly  it  was  not  designed  to  be ;  but  the  pro- 
moters of  the  project  were  there  in  sufficient  number  to  make 
it  appear  to  be  the  sense  of  the  gathering  that  the  work 
should  go  on.  Those  whose  financial  interests  were  at  stake, 
however,  and  who  were  not  concerned  in  mere  attempts  to 
gain  a  partisan  advantage,  determined  upon  preventive  meas- 
ures, and  on  the  16th  of  the  month  Counsellor  Milo  J.  White, 
acting  for  Richard  M.  Winfield,  a  large  real  estate  holder, 
secured  from  Justice  Maddox  an  order  staying  the  investi- 
gation, pending  a  hearing,  on  the  ground  that  the  cost  was 
excessive,  and  that  no  provision  of  the  charter  authorized 
the  employment,  or  permitted  the  payment,  of  experts  for 
such  work.  Copies  of  the  order,  returnable  on  the  20th  of 
December,  were  served  upon  the  Mayor,  City  Clerk,  members 
of  the  Common  Council  and  the  chief  accountant.  On  return 
dav  the  hearing  was  postponed  by  consent  until  the  23d  of 
December,  when  it  was  again  postponed  until  the  26th.  The 
case  finally  came  before  Judge  Keogh,  in  New  Kochelle,  on 


the  27th  of  December,  when  the  injunction  was  vacated,  and 
the  plaintiff  instructed  his  counsel  to  appeal. 

Since  the  act  of  incorporation  of  1892,  each  political 
party  has,  from  time  to  time,  when  opportunity  offered,  se- 
cured charter  amendments  with  the  sole  view  of  gaining  a 
partisan  advantage ;  the  interests  of  the  city  and  its  people 
were  minor  considerations;  it  was  partisanship  gone  mad, 
and  there  are  indications  of  renewed  activity  in  that  direction. 
Optimists,  however,  hope  for  better  things ;  they  believe 
that  in  due  time  the  madness  of  mere  political  strife  in  munic- 
ipal government  will  subside;  that  there  will  be  practically 
a  new  charter  as  a  result  of  intelligent,  public-spirited  action 
and  co-operation  ;  that  professional  politicians  will  be  relegated 
to  the  rear,  and  that  conservative,  independent  citizens  will 
see  that  Mount  \'ernon  and  its  interests  are  saved  from  the 
machinations  of  those  whose  partisanship,  of  whatever  kind 
exceeds  their  patriotism. 


F.    A.  STRATTON. 
Vicc-I'icsidciU  Westchester  Li^litiiiii  Co 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  11. 

NKWSI'A  1'I:KS — HANKS. 


Oil  tla-  .'iOih  cil'  Scpti-mlicr,  1 S,")  1-,  aiipcaivd  llic  Muunl 
W-rnoii  (~ia/.cllc,  |)ul)lislK-il  liy  Ik-iiry  S.  Hill  and  1;i;')<.tI  A.  S. 
MaiiiiiiiL;.  After  six  nioiuhs  Mr.  Hill  withdrew,  and  tin-  paper 
was  conducted  hv  .\lr.  .Mannin;^  until  his  death  in  I'ehruary, 
1S57.     A  few  months  later  the  publication  was  susjiended. 


\\  i.ui^inc   Co.    .N.).  I 


The  Village  News  was  started  on  the  27th  of  June,  1S6S,  by 
\.  W.  McDonald  and  S.  E.  Iloldredge.  The  former  retired 
from  the  firm  in  a  few  months,  and  in  January,  l.S()9,  the 
])aper  was  changed  to  the  Weekly  Sentinel,  with  I.  I--.  Ireland 
as  editor,  and  on  the  25th  of  September  of  that  year  it  ap- 
I)eared  as  the  Chronicle,  with  Chas.  A.  D.  Meyerhoff  as  editor 
and  |)roprielor.  In  the  second  number,  however,  the  name 
of  Joseph  S.  Wood  was  substituted  as  editor,  with  .Mr.  Mever- 
hofF  as  publisher.  Mr.  Wood  personally  conducted  the  i)aj)er 
with  success  until  1884-,  when  its  management  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Daniel  Lewis.  On  the  1st  of  June,  ls;);{,  T. 
.Milton  Taylor  became  the  proprietor  and  editor,  and  con- 
ducted the  paper  until  the  1st  of  September,  ISDN. 

Ill  January,  isT',),  was  jiublished  the  Ivast  Chester  Indc- 
pendciu,  by  David  Brown  &  Co.,  and  later  by  David  C. 
Voung.  It  gave  up  the  ghost  in  July  of'  the  same  year.  The 
.Mount  Vernon  Argus  was  first  published  on  the  20th  of  .March, 
IST'J,  l)y  Sidebotham  &  Holdredge.  The  latter  very  soon 
thereafter  dis])osed  of  his  interest  in  the  paper  to  William 
Wallace  McClellan,  and  the  new  firm  of  Sidebotham  &  Mc- 
Clellan  conducted  the  paper  until  the  Isl  of  January,  1SS4-, 
when  Mr.  .McClellan  became  the  sole  proprietor.  He  sold  tlie 
pa|)cr  to  .Mvali   I'.   iM-ench,  of  North  Castle,  ;ind   Henry  O. 


SnifTen,  of  White  Plains,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1S;»0.  French 
iK:  SnilFcn  ])ublished  the  i)a])er  until  the  l.')th  of  .Viiril,  ISIta, 
when  .Mr.  Snitlen  sold  his  interest  to  I'ranklin  A.  .Merriam; 
meaiuime,  however,  I'rcnch  &  Snilfen  had  started  the  Daily 
.\rgus  in  connection  with  the  weekly  ])ubliealion.  On  the 
l.'Uh  of  August,  lUOl,  .Mr.  Trench  was  succeeded  by  .Mark 
D.  Stiles,  the  firm  becoming  Stiles  &  Merriam,  who  are  the 
present  owners.  The  .A.rgus  had  theretofore  been  an  advo- 
cate of  Democratic  ])rinciples  and  policies;  but  under  the  new 
regime  its  political  creed  was  changed,  and  it  became  a  Repub- 
lican newspaper  of  the  most  radical  type,  seeking  to  infuse  a 
partisan  spirit  even  into  the  minutiae  of  municipal  aflairs. 
Rc])nblican  incumbency  it  regards  as  a  benefaction,  a  sacro- 
sanct disiiensation,  while  the  domination  of  any  other  ])olit- 
ical  jiarly  it  believes  is  a  menace  to  national  and  mnnicipid 
life. 

In  ISSl-  Henjaniin  I".  .Ashley  began  the  publication  of  the 
Westchester  County  Record.  It  was  bought,  in  1S92,  by  the 
Record  Association,  and  its  name  w;is  changed  to  the  Mount 
X'ernon  Record.  On  the  1st  of  September,  1S9S,  the  Chronicle 
was  merged  \\i :h  the  Record  under  a  time-limit  contract,  and 
the  Chronicle- Record  was  continued  under  the  editorial  man- 
agement of  Col.  W.  J.  Bryant  uuu\  his  death  in  July,  11*00. 


On  the  1st  of  Se]Hember,  1901,  at  the  ex])iration  of  the  con- 
tract, the  Chronicle  and  Record  parted  company,  the  former 
going  out  of  existence,  and  the  latter  continuing  to  be  ])ub- 
lislied  from  the  eslal>lishment  of  the  Daily  .Vrgiis. 

In  June,  IMU,  Stejihen  J.  Siillwell,  a  young  lawyer,  estali- 


30 


HIST  ( )  R  Y   OF    MOUNT  VERNON. 


lished  the  Reformer.  He  ei)nducted  it  vi^oniuslv  and  afjjjres- 
sively,  and  hy  tact  and  energy  secured  the  city's  advertisinjf, 
which  made  his  paper  a  valuable  asset,  so  valuable  indeed 
that  in  November,  1892,  Mr.  Stillwell  sold  his  paper  at  a 
satisfactor}^  ])rice  to  the  ])ro]irietor  of  the  Chronicle,  and  the 


Iin^?iiic  Co.  No.  .'{ 


two  pajiers  were  nierfjed,  the  name  Chronicle  only  beiiifx  re- 
tained. 

Mr.  J.  Armoy  Knox,  who  had  been  credited  with  making;  a 
success  of  "Texas  Siftin<is,"  secured  the  financial  co-operation 
of  several  citizens,  and  founded  the  Mount  Vernon  News,  the 
first  number  appearinjf  on  the  4th  of  February,  1S;)3.  The 
])'iper  was  fairly  successful,  but  its  manaf^enient  did  not  jirove 
s/itisfactory  to  those  financially  interested,  and  in  about  a 
year  Mr.  Knox  withdrew.  For  several  years  thereafter  the 
paper  was  conducted  by  various  persons  employed  for  the 
purpose  until  Augnst,  1899,  when  the  propert}'  w{is  actjuired 
hy  Henry  C.  Fordham,  its  present  proprietor.  On  the  16lh 
of  April,  1900,  appeared  the  first  number  of  the  Daily  Ea^ile, 
started  by  Mr.  Fordham  as  an  adjunct  to  the  News,  and 
the  I'y  isjle  is  now  one  of  the  city's  otlitial  news]iapcrs. 

Tlrj  Sentinel,  a  daily  news])a]ier,  owned  and  edited  by  ex- 
Mayor  Edvyard  F.  Brush,  made  its  first  apjjearance  on  the 
16th  of  January,  1895.  It  was,  and  continued  durinj;  its 
career  to  be,  a  notable  exposition  of  tart  editorial  criticism. 
While  Republican  in  politics,  it  was  not  offensively  partisan, 
and  did  not  contend  that  the  Republican  part}'  had  a  mono]i- 
oly  of  virtues,  or  that  its  political  ojiponents  had  a  comer  in 
vices.  It  was  sane.  The  pajjcrs  were  readily  sold  and  eagerly 
read,  and  the  venture  should  have  been  successful:  but  the 
owner  was  actively  engaged  in  other  business,  the  pajier  being 
merely  a  side  issue;  he  had  no  journalistic  experience,  and 
was  obliged  to  rely  upon  suliordinates  to  manage  the  details 
of  his  publication.  As  a  result  the  outgo  largely  exceeded 
the  income,  and  it  proved  a  costly  experiment.  The  genial 
Doctor  knew  when  he  had  etiough,  and  he  cpiit  the  game,  the 
last  issue  of  his  paper  being  that  of  the  2(>th  of  August,  1896. 

The  Republican,  ostensibly  published  by  David  C.  Young, 
but  issued  from  the  office  of  the  News,  appeared  in  1900.  It 
was  established  as  a  political  scheme  designed  to  secure  from 
the  Common  Council  the  city  advertising,  to  the  discomfiture 
of  the  Record,  which,  as  a  Republican  newspaper,  then  had 
its  share  of  that  ])atronage.  For  two  years  the  Republican 
gathered  in  the  shekels  upon  which  the  Record  had  mainly 
relied  for  support,  when  a  new  distributioTi  by  the  Common 


Council  turned  the  life-giving  stream  in  other  directions. 
Thereupon,  the  Ke])ublican,  havitiLT  nothing  to  live  for,  quietly 
]Dassed  away. 

BANKS. 

In  1868  was  chartered  the  East  Chester  National  Bank, 
with  a  capital  of  $250,000.  Its  officers  were  William  M. 
Tweed,  of  New  York,  President :  Cornelius  Corson,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; Henry  S.  Murray,  Cashier.  It  was  located  in  the  Wash- 
ington Hotel  building,  in  Fourth  avenue  below  First  street. 
The  subsecjuent  disastrous  collapse  of  Mr.  Tweed's  political 
and  financial  career  necessitated  a  change  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  liank,  and  in  1874  the  stock  was  sold  out  to 
Mason,  Cox  &  Smith,  New  York  bankers,  who  a  year  latei 
wound  up  its  affairs  and  closed  its  doors. 

By  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1871,  the  East  Chester  Sav- 
ings Bank  was  established.  Its  business  was  conducted  in 
Washington  Hall,  and  John  M.  Masterton  was  its  first  presi- 
dent. It  is  still  in  successful  operation,  and  Joseph  S.  Clark 
is  President. 

John  M.  Masterton,  Philip  Lucas,  Jr.,  and  William  IT. 
Pem1)erton  organized  a  private  banking  house  in  1874,  under 
the  firm  name  of  John  M.  Masterton  &  Co.  The  establish- 
ment was  in  VanCourt's  building.  Fourth  avenue  below  First 
street,  and  later  in  the  Berry  building.  In  a  few  years  Mr. 
Pemberton  withdrew,  and  in  1884  the  firm  made  an  assign- 
ment and  the  business  was  closed. 

The  Bank  of  Mount  Vernon  was  started  in  1.S85,  with  a 
cajiital  of  $25,000.  The  officers  were  (louverneur  Rogers, 
President;  Henry  C.  Smith,  Vice-President,  and  Jesse  Lant;-, 
Cashier.  It  conducted  business  in  the  Berry  building  until 
the  comjiletion  and  occupancy  of  its  ]iresent  building,  in  1890. 
Minott  C.  Kellogg  is  now  President,  D.  Whitmore,  \  ite- 
President,  and  Jesse  Lantz,  Cashier.  Cajiital  and  surjilus, 
$1H5,000.    It  is  being  reorganized. 

There  was  organized  in  1889,  and  (i|)ened  fur  buhiness  mi 
the  24th  of  November  in  that  vear.  The  Peojiles'  Bank,  with 
Henry  C.  Smith  as  President,  and  (icorge  E.  Archc  as  Crshic. 
Its  cajiital  was  $50,()n().    It  1)ccanie  a  national  liaiik  on  tie 


Coliiiiihi;i   llosc  .\o. 


1st  of  April,  1900,  with  the  title  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Mount  Vernon.  Clarence  S.  McClellan  is  President,  Thomas 
R.  Hodge,  \  ice-President,  and  Theodore  F.  Nesbitt,  Cashier. 
It  has  recently  added  a  savings  department  to  its  facilities. 
Capital  and  surjjlus,  $150,000. 


MARK    n.  STlLi:S. 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  111. 


CIlllv'Clli:s— CI.^1!^■ 


(  )ii  Scmlh  C<iluiiil)iis  avcniR',  cast  ot'  Third  avt-iuic,  stands 
1)1(1  St.  Paul's,  and  thoiv  it  li;ts  stood  a  luiiidrcd  and  twvnty- 
(.■i.L;ht  years,  surrounded  hy  its  throi-  and  a  halt'acres  of  clinrch- 
yard,  in  whith  repose  more  lli.an  six  thousand  liodies. 

That  the  settlers  of  Ivast  Chester  had  in  mind  their  s])iril- 
ual  needs  is  shown  hy  the  articles  of"  aj^reenient  anion<;  them 
in   KiC),"),  \v!ierein  their  |)ur|)ose  is  announeed  to  ";;ive  new- 


order  attei'  .Mr.  Brewster's  withdrawal.  A  reminder  of  the 
l\ev.  .Mor;.;an  Jones'  ineumhenev  is  this  e.\tr;ict  from  the  t')wn 
minutes:  "Thes  are  to  Certifie  whom  it  may  consern  that 
kiehard  Saniey  and  .\nn  Canie  weare  Lawfully  married  the 
2Sih  day  of  1  (eeenilH-r  Ids,")  Hy  me  .Morten  J oans,_ menester 


if  the  <j;os|)eli." 

In  \<>U2  it  was  determined  ic 


id  a  ehin\h,  thou;.;h  tlic 


CluMcli  of  Our  I, .Illy  .if  \  iiti>ry.  K.  C. 
St.  I'aul's  (".eniKiii   l.iillior.in  Cluireh 


I"irsi  I'rcsliv  tiri.in  Cliureli 
Dutch  Ki-t'iirniod  Churcli 


eiicotira.^cmeiit  to  Mr.  Brewster  each  other  week  to  .t^ive  us 
a  word  of  exhortation,  and  that  when  we  arc  .settled  we  meet 
toj^ether  every  ollui-  woek  oni'  hour,  to  t.dk  of  the  best 
thiuf^s."  The  Rev.  .Nathaniel  Brewster,  then  servint,'  in  West- 
chester, thereu])()ii  assumed  charjrc  of',  and  for  several  years 
looked  after,  the  relis^ious  welfare  of  I>ist  Chester.  The  Rev. 
Ezekiel  .Fo^gc,  the  Kev.  Warham  .Mather,  the  Rev.  Mor 
iXnu  Jones  and  the  Rev,  Samuel  (lodiiiu;,  sueeecded  in  their 


|)i  i)je.'t  w;is  not  eonsunim.aled  until  eij:hl  yc;irs  later,  and  tlie 
Rev.  Joseph  Moruan  was  placed  in  change.  The  huildint;, 
erected  on  the  "("ireen,"  was  of  frame,  tweniy-eiijht  feet  S()u;iro 
and  ali(UU  ei.uhleen  feel  to  the  eaves,  the  sides  as  well  as  the 
roof  heintr  shin.!.;led.  The  interior  was  wainscotied  and  had  a 
gallery.  Mr.  Morgan  served  seven  or  ciyhl  years,  when  he 
w.'is  sueeecded  hy  the  Rev.  John  Bartow.  The  latter,  in  ITliT, 
^ave   place    to  the  Rev.  Thomas  St.-md.ird.  who  ministered 


34- 


HIvSTORY   OF   MOUNT  VERNON 


in  the  different  congregations  of  his  parish  for  thirty-three 
years.  In  February,  1761,  came  the  Rev.  John  Mihier,  fol- 
lowed in  1766  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury. 

In  1764',  the  old  building  having  been  used  more  than 
sixt}'  j-ears,  being  much  deca3'ed  and  very  cold  in  winter,  the 
foundation  of  a  new  church  was  laid,  the  work  upon  which 
was  continued  until  the  building  was  enclosed,  when  it  was 
suspended,  and  the  church  was  not  finished  until  1775.  Ser- 
vices were  maintained  in  the  old  building  until  1776,  when 
it  was  taken  down  and  consumed  as  fuel  in  the  new  church, 
then  in  use  as  a  British  hospital.  It  was  not  until  four  years 
after  the  war  that  services  were  resumed  in  the  church,  it 
having  been  used  meantime  as  a  court-house.  The  Rev.  Elias 
Cooper  was  in  charge  of  the  parish  from  1789  to  1801.  In 


Among  the  V)odies  resting  in  the  churchyard  are:  Comfort 
Sands,  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1775,  for  five 
years  auditor-general  of  accounts  in  the  American  arm}  ,  I'lesi- 
dent  of  the  New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  for  several  years;  Capt.  Jonathan  Fov\ler, 
of  the  French  war,  and  his  son,  Capt.  Theodosius  Fowler  of 
Revolutionary  fame ;  Major  George  W.  Prevost,  of  the  British 
army ;  Philip  Pell,  Judge-Advocate  of  the  American  army, 
and  his  brother,  Major  Samuel  Pell. 

St.  Paul's  parish  was  a  district  seven  miles  long,  in  the 
southern  part  of  which  was  the  area  that  subsequently  became 
the  village  of  Mount  \'ernon.  In  June,  1851,  two  years  be- 
fore the  incorporation  of  the  village,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Duncan, 
with  a  view  of  supplying  the  needs  of  the  new  settlement, 


First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
Trinity  Church,  Episcojjal 


First   Baptist  Church 
Cln  rch  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  K.  C. 


October,  1795,  the  parish,  which  had  been  organized  in 
1787  under  the  general  act  of  1784,  was  re-incorporated 
under  the  provisions  of  the  act  for  the  relief  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Chtirch  of  the  State.  It  then  first  took  the  name 
of  St.  Paul's.  There  came  to  it  in  turn  the  follov\-ing  rectors  : 
The  Rev.  Isaac  Wilkins,  the  Rev.  Ravaud  Kearney,  the  Rev. 
Lewis  P.  Bayard,  the  Rev.  Lawson  Carter,  the  Rev.  John 
Grigg,  the  Rev.  Robert  Bolton,  the  Rev.  Edwin  Harwood  and 
the  Rev.  Henry  E.  Duncan  in  18-17.  The  church  has  been 
described  as  a  building  "remarkable  for  the  character  of  its 
masonry,  the  angles  being  ornamented  with  rustic  quoins; 
the  windows  and  doors  also  have  rustics.  At  the  west  end 
is  a  square  tower  of  three  stages  with  narrow  lights  termi- 
nating in  an  octangular  lantern  containing  a.  bell  on  which 
is  inscribed:   'Gift  of  Rev.  Thomas  Standard,  1758.'  " 


held  evening  prayer  at  the  house  of  Samson  \'alentine,  near 
Hunt's  bridge.  In  February,  1852,  the  Rev.  William  S.  C<  ffey 
succeeded  Mr.  Duncan  as  the  incumbent  of  St.  Paul's,  and  in 
June  of  that  year  he  began  a  series  of  services  in  the  school- 
house  at  Scott's  bridge,  which  after  an  interruption  were 
resumed  in  1854  at  the  office  of  Pelham  L.  McClellan,  and 
continued  later  in  a  building  at  the  corner  of  First  street  and 
Fifth  avenue. 

On  the  21st  of  October,  1856,  was  fi)rmally  organized  a 
new  parish  by  the  name  of  "  The  Rector,  Churchwardens  and 
Vestrvmen  of  Trinity  Church,  Mount  \'ernon,  in  the  town  of 
East  Chester."  Richard  Baldwin  and  George  O.  Street  were 
the  first  wardens.  The  meetings  were  held  in  Journeau's  Hall, 
at  Fifth  avenue  and  Fourth  street.  Four  thousand  dollars 
were  raised  as  the  nucleus  of  a  building  fund,  and  three  quar- 


|(jsi:i'ii  AC.ATE  iiorsi:,  m.d. 


II  I  S  T  ( )  K  \'    ( )  I'    M  ( )  r  N  T    \'  I-  R  NO  \ 


tfr-acrc  lots,  in  I'mirlli  .ivcinn.',  liclwccii  I'liurtli  .'iiid  I'iCtli 
streets,  wore  yivi  ii  l)y  Ricli.ird  Atkinson,  I'lcor^v  ( ).  Strict 
and  Sauiiul  'I".  |ciiniii;,fs.  The  conicr-slonc  ol'  the  |)arish 
church  was  laid  on  the  24-th  of  Noveniher,  IS.")",  and  tlie 
church  was  used  for  evening  |)rayer  on  Christni.as  dav,  IS,")',). 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Cotlev  continued  in  char^^e,  in  connection  with 
his  (hities  at  St.  Paul's,  until  l.ST.'i,  when  he  was  relieved  hy 
the  l\ev.  Clarent-e  Huel,  and  the  latter  was  succeeded  hv  the 
Rev.  William  H.  Hooper.  The  Rev.  Stei)hen  I".  Holmes  fol- 
lowed Mr.  lloo|)L-rin  1S7S,  and  served  until  the  early  nineties. 
I'pon  his  withdrawal  no  successor  was  immediately  ajjpoinled, 
thoufih  services  were  continued  by  "su])plies"  until  the  .'id  of 
.\I  iy,  ISU;?,  when  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  S.  T.  (".r;ihaui, 
assumed  char-^e  of  the  parish.   Since  then  about  $1M,()00  have 


east  corner  ol  I'ark  and  Sidney  avenues,  and  is  an  attractive 
structure.  On  the  1  fth  ol'  .March,  Is'.i",  a  beautiful  marble 
altar  and  reredos  was  consecrated.     It  was  the  j.rift  of  .Mr. 

H.  Wesley  in  memory  of  his  wili-,  on  behalf  of  his  (lau;;hiers, 
.Mrs.  Charles  A.  Hreck  and  .Mrs.  joanna  C.  I'arsons.  In  IK*)'.) 
a  chancel  window  of  "The  Ascension"  was  presented  bv  .Mr. 
and  Mrs.  C.  I).  \'an  Schaick  in  memory  of  their  dau<;hler. 
More  than  six  hundred  |)arishii)ners  testify  to  the  rajiid  ".'rowlh 
ot  the  parish  under  the  ministrations  of  the  ])o|)ul<-ir  rector. 

IC.-irly  in  1  s.")2,  leather  Ivuj,'ene  .Mc<",uire,  a  jiriest  of  the 
Roman  Church  in  Westchester,  ministered  to  those  of  his 
faith  in  Mount  X'ernon,  the  first  mass  bein;^  celebrated  in  a 
barn  near  the  corner  of  I'ourth  aveiuie  Jind  I'ifih  street,  and 
subse(iuentl\'  in  the  house  of  T'eter  O'Connor  at  the  corner  of 


I'irsi  Coii;^iif;;ui<)n;il  Cluircli 
Soiitli  Ninth  Avfiiiie,  South  from  I"i>urth  Street 


been  raised  and  expended  on  Uie  church  property,  in  finishiui,' 
the  jiarish  house,  in  buildin.Lj  a  rectory,  redecorating:  tin- 
church  and  sujjplyin-^  a  new  ortran. 

The  parish  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension  was  incor- 
porated on  the  2()th  of  May,  IS'.H).  In  October  of  the  same 
yjar  th--  Rev.  Francis  M.  S.  Taylor,  M.A.,  was  called  to  assume 
char-re,  and  entered  upon  the  work,  which  he  still  carries  on 
with  jjreat  success.  The  services  were  orijiinally  held  in  a 
buildin^r,  formerly  a  Swedenbortrian  church,  hired  for  the  pur- 
pose. .\s  the  movement  "gained  strength,  property  was  ac- 
(piired  and  plans  were  f<jrmed  for  the  buildin.t;  of  a  church. 
.\  desi^nt  for  the  ])rop<).sed  edifice  was  prepared  and  adopted: 
the  corner-stone  was  laid  on  the  1-1-th  of  .May,  ISUG,  and  the 
opening  service  w;is  held  in  the  new  church  on  the  (Uh  of 
December  in  the  same  year.    The  buildin-j  is  at  the  north- 


Third  avenue  and  I'ifth  street.  I'atlier  O'Reilley,  who  suc- 
ceeded Father  .Mclniire  in  Westchester,  continued  these  visi- 
tations. .\bout  the  same  time  Father  Jo.seph  Baldofl"  was 
sent  from  .\ew  York  to  officiate  for  the  C.erman  settlers,  which 
he  did  until  his  death  a  few  years  later.  In  IS.'i't,  I'aiher 
Kinsella,  of  Westchester,  took  charge  of  this  movement,  and 
determined  upon  the  erection  of  a  church,  Lot  3(>(>,  at  the 
corner  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Second  street,  was  boui^ht  tor 
.$2,'^",  and  thereon  was  placed  a  jiLiin  wooden  structure, 
which  was  designated  St.  .Matthew's.  It  was  afterward  en- 
larj^ed,  and  continued  to  be  used  fi)r  many  ye.irs.  In  isTs 
it  was  removed  to  -rive  place  to  the  ]>resent  Sacred  Ile.ut 
Church,  a  substantial  and  striking  edifice,  of  which  leather 
F.  J.  Flynn  is  the  ])riest  in  char<:e.  It  ha.s  recently  been  re- 
decorated and  fitted  with  stained  jjlass  windows  of  unusual 


3S 


H  I  vS  T  O  K  \'   ( )  F    M  (  )  U  N  T   Y  E  R  N  (  )  N 


artistic  excellence.  Connected  with  the  church  is  a  largeh- 
attended  parish  school.  Several  additional  churches  of  the 
Roman  communion  have  since  been  built. 

The  first  services  of  the  Methodist  Society  were  held  in 
various  private  houses  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  DeVinne,  then  in 
charge  of  the  Methodist  church  in  East  Chester,  and  later  in 
a  room  over  Mr.  Wisdom's  shop,  in  Third  avenue  between 
First  and  Second  streets.  In  1852  the  society  was  organized, 
and  was  incorporated  on  the  6th  of  March,  1854-,  with  the  title 
of  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Mount  \"ernon.  It 
now  owns  and  occupies  a  fine  structure  at  the  corner  of  Eighth 
avenue  and  Second  street,  with  the  Rev.  George  C.  Peck  as 
pastor.    He  is  an  eloquent  preacher  and  a  genial  man. 

In  July,  1897,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of  Dr. 


Wisdom's  building,  and  afterward  in  journeau's  Hall,  at  Fifth 
avenue  and  Fourth  street.  A  meeting  to  form  a  society  was 
held  on  Sunday,  the  24th  of  April,  1853,  and  on  the  11th  of 
May  following,  at  the  house  of  John  Buskirk,  eighteen  mem- 
bers organized  themselves  into  a  Baptist  church,  and  on  the 
26th  of  December  in  that  year  called  the  first  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Burnett.  The  church  was  incorporated  on  the 
17th  of  August,  1854-,  as  "The  Trustees  of  the  Baptist  Church 
of  the  village  of  Mount  Vernon,  town  of  East  Chester,  county 
of  Westchester."  In  January,  1854,  it  was  determined  to 
build  a  church,  the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  on  the 
27th  of  March  in  that  year  upon  a  lot  in  Fourth  avenue  l)e- 
tween  Third  and  Fourth  streets.  The  church  was  dedicated 
on  Christmas  day,  1855.    For  thirty-two  years  the  congrega- 


Swedisli  Lutherim  Cluircli 
Lhii vcrsalisl  Cliiii'cli 


St.  J(>h;iiincs  Ii\auj;ciical 
Con^i^rc.-cational  Chapel,  Vernon  Piirk 


Thomas  A.  Fletcher,  in  East  Lincoln  avenue,  to  discuss  the 
advisability  of  estabhshing  a  Methodist  church  in  the  Ches- 
ter Hill  district.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  in  September  of 
the  same  year,  it  was  decided  to  build  a  temporary  structure 
on  a  lot  owned  by  Dr.  Fletcher  on  Summit  avenue,  the  use 
of  which  he  tendered  free  of  cost  for  one  year.  The  tempo- 
rary building  was  erected,  and  the  first  service  was  held  therein 
on  the  18th  of  March,  1898,  the  sermon  being  preached 
bv  Dr.  George  P.  Mains.  As  the  final  outcome  of  that  move- 
ment, the  society  has  now  an  elaborate  church,  costing  more 
than  $70,000,  at  the  corner  of  East  Lincoln  and  Summit 
avenues.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  on  the  28th  of  July, 
1900,  and  the  church  was  dedicated  on  the  19th  of  May, 
1901 

The   Ba])ists  held  their  first  meetings  in  Mount  Vernon  in 


tion  oceu]iie<l  the  l)nil(ling;  then  a  lot  was  l)ought  ;it  the 
corner  of  Second  avenue  and  Second  street,  where  ground 
was  at  (jnce  broken  for  the  building  of  a  new  church,  the 
corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  on  the  3d  of  September,  1887. 
It  was  finished  and  dedicated  on  the  1st  of  June,  1888.  The 
Rev.  William  A.  Granger  is  the  pastor. 

The  Reformed  Church  of  Mount  \'ernon  was  estal)lished 
in  May,  1853,  with  a  niembershi])  of  fourteen  ]5ersons,  and 
was  incorporated  in  November  of  that  year,  with  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Snvder  as  pastor.  A  frame  building  was  soon  erected 
and  used  until  the  present  church  in  South  Fifth  avenue  was 
built  in  1872.  The  Rev.  Charles  H.  Tyndall  is  the  pastor 
in  charge,  and  his  repute  has  added  to  the  church  member- 
ship. 

On  the  12th  of  P\'l)ruary,  1855,  the  Universalist  Society 


.MEKWIN    K.  ClvMNc;. 


HISTORY    OF    MOT  XT    V  I-  R  X  O  X 


41 


()('  Mount  \'crii()n  was  incorporated.  Tlic  lust  services  were 
held  hy  the  Kev.  Henry  l.yoii  in  a  second-story  room  of  Cen- 
tral llali,  at  the  corner  of  Third  avenue  and  I'ourth  street. 
The  next  year  a  church  building'  was  erected,  and  dedicated 
on  the  23d  of  Seiiteinher. 

In  March,  185S,  the  Lutherans  estal)lished  themselves  in 
the  upper  room  of  the  huildinj^  at  the  corner  ol  I'ilth  aveiuie 
and  First  street,  under  the  ministration  of  the  Kev.  Merman 
Boeiinf^en.  They  sul)se(juently  removed  to  a  meetinij  ])lace 
in  Bleccker  street,  where  the  Rev.  |.  II.  IJaden  served  iluni  for 
six  years.  Their  present  church,  St.  I'aid's,  in  Seventh  avenue, 
near  First  street,   was  dedicated  on  the  12th  of  January, 


lormally  organized  with  seventy-three  members.  The  corner- 
stone ot  the  present  church  in  Sixth  avenue  was  laid  in  Ilecem- 
ber,  1SS;»,  and  the  finished  structure  was  dedicated  on  the 
Sth  of  December,  IS'.IO.  Its  cost  was  $(12,000,  and  $'>,(H)i) 
have  since  been  expended  in  im])ro vemeiit  <'ind  decor.'ition. 
The  church  is  without  debt,  and  has  a  niernbershi(j  of  more 
than  six  hundred.  The  jiastor,  Kev.  Charles  S.  Lane,  has  been 
in  char^^e  fifteen  years.  The  Missionary  I'astor  is  the  Kev. 
Llewellyn  J.  I)avies,  Tsinj^tau,  China. 

The  I-irst  Con;;ref;<'itional  Church  of  .Mount  X'ernon  was 
orj;anized  on  the  Sth  of  June,  1892,  under  the  lea(lershi|)  o( 
a  provisional  conimittec,  the   Kev.  \V.   T.   Stokes,  Sujierin- 


lj 


frw- 


Norili  M.  i;.  Clnm 


Enfilisli  I,iithir;m  Cliurcli 


St.   Mar\s  Cliuroli,  K.  C, 


Cliurcli  ol  tile  Asitiision,  Iv|iis(.-<i|i.il 


1S77.  It  has  at  the  moment  no  re,<inlar  ]iastor.  There  are 
at  least  two  other  branches  of  the  Ltiiheran  Church  that 
have  since  been  established. 

As  the  result  of  a  meetiiifi:  held  on  the  2t5th  of  .May,  1887, 
a  petition  was  presented  to  the  Presbytery  of  Westchester  for 
the  establishment  of  a  church  in  Mount  Vernon.  The  first 
session  of  the  Sunday  school  was  held  three  days  later  in  0. 
A.  R.  Hall.  The  next  week  I'liion  Ilall  was  hired,  and  the  first 
devotional  meetin>i  was  held  there  on  the  2d  of  June.  The 
first  preachiiif;  service,  conducted  by  the  Kev.  Charles  li. 
Lindslev,  of  New  Kochelle,  was  on  Sunday,  the  12th  of  June. 
The  petition  to  the  Presbytery  was  .irranted  on  the  21st  of 
June,  and  two  davs  later  the  I-'irst  Presbvterian  Chtirch  w;is 


tendent  of  the  Consirejzational  Home  Missionary  Society  lor 
New  York  City  and  vicinity,  receiving:  the  candidates  tor 
membership.  The  Kev.  J.  D.  Helkna])  served  three  months  as 
stated  su])])ly.  The  Kev.  Lewin  1".  Buell  became  the  first 
pastor  in  October,  1802,  servini;  until  .\pril,  18;»8.  The 
church  was  located  at  Mount  Vernon  avenue  and  lli^^h  street, 
but  in  July,  18'.).'!,  a  site  having  been  purchased  at  the  corner 
of  Xinth  avenue  and  \'alentine  street,  and  a  portable  buildiii}; 
placed  thereon,  the  cliurch  entered  upon  its  new  possession. 
The  building  was  dedicated  on  the  10th  of  November  in  the 
same  year.  The  churdi  became  self-sustainini;  in  1S!>(>.  In 
1808  Mr.  Huell  acce])ted  a  call  to  Syracuse,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded bv  the  Kev.  Ch.irlcs  S.  Brooks  of  Boston  Mass.  The 


42 


HISTORY   OF   MOUNT  VERNON 


latter  was  obliged  to  resign,  because  of  ill  health,  after  a 
few  months'  service,  and  the  Rev.  Owen  R.  Lovejoy,  of  Michi- 
gan, was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  was  installed  in  Novem- 
ber, 1899,  and  is  still  in  charge.  The  church  has  a  member- 
ship of  235,  and  is  prospering  in  all  ways. 

The  Vernon  Heights  Congregational  Church,  in  South 
Columbus  avenue,  is  the  outcome  of  the  energetic  labor  of  a 
few  citizens,  among  them  being  G.  C.  Johns,  Albert  A.  Ulcht, 


Chester  M.  li.  Chureli. 


Walter  C.  Reid  and  Thomas  Beattie.  After  ten  years  or  more 
of  untiring  effort,  a  successful  church,  free  from  debt,  is  in 
operation,  with  the  Rev.  R.  J.  Cjoddard  as  the  pastor. 

Other  religious  bodies  have  been  organized,  and  are  doing 
effective  work  in  their  respective  fields. 

CLUBS. 

The  local  social  organizations  are  numerous.  Of  many 
of  them  there  is  no  public  record;  their  existence  being  known 
only  to  the  members.  Of  those  which  have  acquired  promi- 
nence by  reason  of  theirextended  sphere  of  activity,  through  pub- 
lic entertainments,  or  by  the  discussion  of  civic  prolilems,  may 
be  mentioned  the  City  Club,  of  which  ex-Mayor  Dr.  lidward 
F.  Brush  is  President;  William  A.  Anderson,  Vice-President; 
Albert  F.  Oeseheidt,  Jr.,  Secretary,  and  Max  F'arpart,  Treas- 
urer. The  Club  was  organized  in  1895,  and  has  108  mem- 
bers who  occupy  a  well-equipped  club  house,  built  for  them, 
in  Prospect  avenue  adjoining  the  Post  Office.  It  has  been 
the  scene  of  many  convivial  gatherings,  at  which  all  the  good 
things  of  life  designed  to  satisfy  the  inner  man  were  lavishly 
dispensed  by  hospitable  hosts;  and  they  who  were  the  for- 
tunate guests  on  any  of  these  festive  occasions  might  have 
accounted  for  their  perfectly  decorous,  though  iierhajis  un- 
wonted hilarity,  by  asserting  that 

"'Tis  the  plump  grape's  immortal  juice 
That  does  this  happiness  produce." 

The  Siwanoy  Country  Club,  organized  in  May,  1901,  is  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  with  a  membership  of  two  hundred. 
The  officers  are  :  Dr.  A.  M.  Campbell,  President ;  Glenn  Ford  Mc- 
Kinney,  Vice-President;  Harold  M.  Wilcox,  Secretary,  and  A. 
D.  Stone,  Treasurer.  The  Club  has  a  suitable  house  with 
extensive  grounds,  the  old  Glover  homestead,  just  beyond 
Sageman's  corners.  There  are  golf  links,  tennis  courts,  and 
other  facilities  for  recreation  and  enjoyment,  and  the  Club's 
occasional  entertainments  are  notable  features  of  social  life. 


The  Westchester  Woman's  CIu!)  is  a  noteworthy  organ- 
ization ;  noteworthy  because  it  exemplifies  what  ma}-  be  accom- 
plished b}'  bright,  energetic  women  on  lines  that  are  common- 
ly regarded  as  outside  their  purview.  The  Club  was  organ- 
ized in  1894-,  and  incorporated  in  1896  with  sixty-five  char- 
ter members.  The  first  President  was  Martha  F.  Gay,  and 
she  was  followed  in  due  course  by  Estelle  R.  McVickar,  Les- 
lie A.  McLean  and  Emma  C.  Davis.  The  present  officers  are  : 
Harriet  M.  Rathbun,  President ;  Susy  E.  Wood,  1st  \'ice- 
President ;  Mary  D.  Sherman,  2d  Vice-President:  May  C.  Mc- 
Laurin,  Recording  Secretary  ;  Jessie  M.  Strong,  Corresponding 
Secretary,  and  M.  Ellen  D.  Zerfass,  Treasurer.  The  member- 
ship is  two  hundred  and  thirty.  The  club  motto,  taken  from 
St.  Augustine,  is,  "In  essential  things  unity,  in  doubtful 
things,  liberty,  in  all  things  charity."  Its  objects  are,  "to 
form  a  recognized  center  for  social  and  mental  culture;  to 
further  the  education  of  women  for  the  responsibilities  of  life; 
to  encourage  all  movements  for  the  betterment  of  society, 
and  to  foster  a  generous  spirit  in  the  comniunitv." 

The  better  to  attain  the  objects  set  forth  in  this  sono- 
rous, but  rather  formidable  prospectus,  the  work  has  been 
divided  into  sections  devoted  respectively  to  History,  I'hilan- 
thropy.  Sociology,  Literature,  Domestic  Science,  Educaticjn, 
Art  and  Music.  It  is  olivious  that  the  scope  of  these  enter- 
prising women  is  nothing  if  not  comprehensive.  Their  meet- 
ings, held  in  Willard  Hall,  are  occasionally  open  to  the  pub- 
lic, and  are  entertaining  and  instructive:  but  if  a  "mere 
man"  can  gain  access  to  one  of  their  informal  gatherings, 
he  can   not   help  being  imjiressed  by  the  fact  that  they  who 


Republic.-m  Club,   Mt.  Veriuni. 


surround  him  are  not  types  of  the  "new  woman,"  they  are 
womanly  women,  who,  l^esides  being  v^'ell  bred  and  well  gowned 
have  cultivated  intellects,  and  discourse  pleasantly  and  in- 
telligently upon  civic  and  economic  problems.  While  their 
theses  may  not,  possibly,  be  classed  as  profi)und  expositions 
of  the  subjects  of  which  they  treat,  they  are  graceful,  scholar- 
ly compositions,  and  indicate  an  unsuspected  capacity  for 
comprehending  conditions  with  which  the  writers  have  but 


MILTON  kATIIBUX. 


HISTORY   OF    M  O  r  X  T    V  K  K  X  O  X 


45 


liniiud  1  ipj)! irlunilics  to  become  t'aiiiiliar.  This  U'il)ute  to 
their  alertness  is  the  tnore  merited  heeause  a  recent  critic  of 
facetious  turn  has  asserted  that  men  are  more  lofjieal  than 
women;  but  he  hastens  to  mitigate  the  righteous  indignation 
of  the  maligned  sex  by  adding,  "they  are  also  more  zoologi- 
cal. Holh  men  and  women  sprang  from  monkeys;  but  the 
women  certainly  sprang  farther  than  the  men." 

On  the  30th  of  December,  1899,  was  organized  the  Com- 
merci;il  Traveler's  Club.  It  h;is  now  a  membership  of  a  hun- 
dred and  iwenty-five.  The  I'resident  is  Charles  A.  Tilly;  the 
\'ice-President  is  W.  F.  Chambers,  with  Louis  II.  Kronfeld  as 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  idea  of  establishing  the  club 
originated  with  I'ire  Commissioner  Kronfeld.  With  him  to 
conceive  is  to  execute;  hence  in  an  incredil)ly  short  time  he 
had  gathered  about  him  a  group  ot  enthusiastic  travelers 
who  now,  as  opportunity  offers,  take  solid  comfort  in  their 
attractive  quarters  in  the  Ferguson  building.  A  billiard  table, 
a  piano,  and  other  recreative  equipage,  contribute  to  their 
enjoyment.  The\-  have  occasional  entertainments  in  the  win- 
ter, and  a  i)opuIar  outing  in  the  summer,  all  of  which  have 
extended  their  name  and  fame  beyond  the  limits  of  their 
fraternal  circle. 

The  Westchester  County  Wheelmen  comprise  ai)out  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  riders  of  the  silent  steed.  They  have  a  well- 
appointed  club  house  at  Seventh  avenue  and  Fourth  street. 
The  club  was  organized  on  the  21st  of  January,  1898,  and 
its  officers  are:  Clarence  L.  Ilowland,  President;  F.  W.  Ship- 
man,  Vice-President;  F.  II.  Southard,  Secretary,  and  J.  (i. 
LePage,  Treasurer.  The  club  runs  are  enjoyable  alfairs  for 
those  sufficiently  robust  to  take  the  jiace.  Fretiuent  enter- 
tainments or  "smokers"  are  given,  invitations  to  which  arc 
eagerly  sought.  The  club  is  one  of  the  recognized  institutions 
of  the  city. 

The  Mount  X'ernon  Catholic  Literary  Society,  a  recent 
organization,  is  composed  of  young  men  who  meet  frequently 
in  their  rooms.  No.  2(5  West  Sidney  avenue,  to  discuss  topics 
of  current  interest.  The  originator  of  the  movement  was  Mr. 
Maurice  j.  Sullivan,  whose  idea  was  to  aid  in  the  increase 
and  diffusion  of  knowledge  concerning  affairs,  whether  at 
home  or  abroad,  that  are  commanding  public  attention;  to 
keep  in  touch  with  the  best  thought  of  the  day  as  expressed 
by  political  economists,  statesmen  and  essayists  of  estab- 
lished rei)ulation.  The  officers  are:  President,  Gea.  (i.  C.er- 
rits;  \'ice-President,  Jacob  L.  Haag;  Secretary-,  lidward  .\. 
("iromiller;  Treasurer,  I'red.  A.  Dumproff;  Librarian,  J.  Leo. 
McLaughlin;  Managers,  Wm.  \'.  Aspenleiter  and  Herman 
Shanz  with  the  foregoing  officers.  It  bids  fair  to  take  high 
rank  as  an  educational  factor  in  the  comnmnit3'. 

The  dominant  political  sentiment  finds  expression  in  the 
symposia  of  the  Republican  Club,  an  organization  comprising 
a  hundred  and  fifty  members,  of  which  Charles  11.  Lovett  is 
President;  Henry  H.  Boyce,  J.  Mortimer  Hell,  Thos.  A.  Mc- 
Kennell,  Henry  Rudolph,  Jr.,  and  James  K.  Fuller,  \'ice-Presi- 
dents;  Edwin  A.  Horn,  Secretary,  and  lidward  F.  Brush,  M.D., 
Treasurer. 

The  club  was  organized  on  the  Sth  of  I'ebruary,  1902, 
and  was  incorporated  on  the  7th  of  June  in  the  same  yenr. 
It  aims  "to  advocate,  promote  and  maintain  the  principles 


of  Rei)ublicanism  enunciated  by  the  Republican  part^' ;  io 
direct  and  interest  in  politics  those  who  have  been  hitherto 
more  or  less  indifferent  in  their  jiolitical  duties;  to  encourage 
attendance  at  the  j)riinary  meetings,  in  order  that  honest 
and  capable  men  may  be  nominated;  to  guard  and  defend 
the  ])urity  of  the  ballot  box;  to  recommend  and  endorse  can- 
didates for  public  office;  to  promote  the  cause  of  g(jod  g(jvern- 
ment  in  the  city  of  Mount  \'ernon ;  to  promote  scjcial  inter- 
course among  its  members,  and  to  perform  such  other  work 
as  may  best  conserve  the  interests  of"  the  Republican  party." 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  schedule  of  ])rospective  perform- 
ances bristles  with  alluring  possibilities;  it  contemplates 
the  upbuilding  of  a  jjolitical  Utopia  wherein  the  beneficent 
influences  of  stalwart  Republicanism  will  make  life  one  grand, 
sweet  song.  This  is  as  it  should  be;  and  one  familiar  with 
the  surroundings  has  1)ut  to  read  the  foregoing  list  of  offi- 
cers to  recognize  their  al)ilily  iu  undertake,  at  least  tentative- 
ly, the  execution  of  the  design,  especiall3-  when  aided  b_v  the 
following  trustees  :  Herbert  T.  Jennings,  F'rank  M.  Tichenor, 
Charles  Hill  Willson,  James  M.  Lockhart,  Hon.  Isaac  X.  Mills, 
Edward  F.  Brush,  M.D.,  Theodore  Taylor,  James  P.  Hayes, 
C.eo.  II.  Lawrence,  Mark  D.  Stiles,  Jesse  Iv.  Holdredge,  Frank 
P.  Crasio,  Frederick  W.  Clark,  Abraham  J.  Light  and  James 
\'.  Simpson.  Should  this  combination  fail  to  accomplish  all 
that  is  hoped  for,  they  may  draw  inspiration  and  wisdom 
lor  the  further  pursuit  of  the  ideal  from  this  liixecutive  Com- 
mittee: William  McCionigle,  Cicorge  W.  Perkins,  Francis  J. 
Cogswell,  James  W.  Kelly,  William  .Vrcher,  Jarvis  W.  .Mason, 
J.  \.  Zimmermann,  Wm.  A.  Anderson,  J.  II.  Whittle,  Adoljih 
W.  Wallander,  Herman  Petri,  John  W.  Waters,  .Alex.  L.  Ilirsch- 
berg,  Allen  W.  Reynolds  and  Wm.  C.  .Mains. 

The  club  occupies  the  house  in  Prospect  avenue  formerh' 
the  headquarters  of  the  Mount  X'ernon  Cj-cle  Club.  .\  provi- 
sion in  its  certificate  of incorjjoration  is  that  "no  intoxicating 
liquors  shall  be  sold  within  its  club  house,"  which  is  more  or 
less  commendable  according  to  the  point  of  view. 

There  is  also  an  organization  known  as  the  Women's  Repub- 
lican Club,  which  is  probably  theoretical  rather  than  practi- 
cal, inasmuch  as  women  without  the  franchise  are  not  likely 
to  become  conspicuous  political  factors;  and  even  with  the 
ballot,  it  is  believed  that  not  very  many  of  them — certainly 
not  of  the  cultivated  class — would  care  to  invade  the  domain 
of  practical  politics. 

The  Democrats,  jirobably  because  of  their  being  apparent- 
ly in  a  hopeless  minority,  have  been  unable  to  maintain  u 
general  club,  though  an  effort  to  that  end  was  made  several 
years  ago  with  only  temporar3-  success.  In  the  fourth  ward, 
where  the  Democratic  sentiment  is  strongest,  there  has  been 
recently  formed  an  organization  stvled  the  Thomas  Jefferson 
Democratic  Club,  whose  sphere  of  activitv  has  thus  far  been 
confined  to  the  ward.  It  has  alreadv  given  indications  of  an 
aggressive  spirit  that  mav  eventually  make  it  an  imj)ortant 
figure  in  municipal  jiolitics,  unless  lack  of  nourishment  should 
cause  anaemia.  It  has  a  hundred  and  seventy-five  members, 
and  is  ofiicered  as  follows:  President,  I-'red.  Bellesheim;  \  ice- 
President,  Owen  J.  McCaffre_v ;  Secretary,  John  Hinkelbein, 
and  Treasurer,  Sam.  Johnson.  The  club  rooms  are  at  No. 
159  West  Lincoln  avenue. 


*  since  this  \v;is  written  the  Club  has  vae.iteii  its  lionse.  and  has,  at  least  temporarily,  suspeniled  its  I'linctions. 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  IV. 


AKCHITECTrRE— GOVERNMENT— SIM. MA  Iv'V 


There  are  more  than  four  thousand  residences.  Those 
built  in  the  twenty-five  years  following  the  settlement  were 
modest,  unpretentious  dwellings,  such  as  are  common  to  the 
average  village.  About  1876  there  was  a  manifest  tendency 
towards  the  ornate;  homes  were  built  from  plans  prepared  bj- 
competent  architects  instead  of  being  constructed  after  the 
crude  ideas  of  village  carpenters;  and  ten  or  twelve  j-ears 
later  the  plain,  though  comfortable  dwellings  of  the  early 
days  were  rendered  more  inconspicuous  by  the  elaborate  and 
costly  houses  that  sprung  up  on  every  side. 


tiful  homes,  artisticalh-  designed  and  honesth-  constructed, 
having  every  convenience  and  comfort  that  a  refined  family 
could  desire.  Hot  water  or  steam  heat;  marble  or  porcelain 
baths;  choice  selected  woods;  marquetry  floors  and  tapes- 
tried walls  are  included  in  the  designs  for  most  of  our  modern 
houses.  To  specify  any  one  or  two,  or  a  half  dozen,  would 
be  to  do  injustice  to  as  many  more  equally  deserving  of  note ; 
and  space  v\nll  not  permit  the  description  of  the  numerous 
handsome  residences  that  adorn  the  cit}-,  and  to  which  addi- 
tions are  being  constantlv  made. 


CEOKC,!-:   ().  BEACH. 

The  first  brick  building  erected  in  the  village,  in  1861,  for 
Mr.  Hitchcock,  still  stands  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Third 
street  and  Third  avenue.  Since  then,  what  a  change  !  In  the 
business  section  brick  buildings  art  the  rule;  indeed,  a  wooden 
structure  cannot  now  be  erected  within  certain  fire  limits; 
and  as  a  frame  building  in  that  quarter  becomes  inadequate 
for  its  purpose,  and  is  removed,  it  must  be  replaced  b}'  one 
of  brick. 

There  are  no  "palatial  residences,"  such  as  flaunt  them- 
selves obtrusively  at  Newport,  and  other  "swell"  places,  nor 
are  there  parvenues  to  necessitate  them;  but  there  are  beau- 


GOVERNAIENT. 

The  first  election  for  village  officers  was  held  on  the  7th 
(jf  March,  1854,  and  the  result  of  that  and  the  subsequent 
elections,  both  of  the  village  and  city,  is  here  given  : 

PRESIDENTS. 

Appointed  each  year  bj-  the  Board  of  Triistees : 
1854.    March  Joseph  S.  Gregory,  M.D. 

1854.  July  Thos.  Jones,  in  place  of  Jos.  S.  (Greg- 

ory, resigned. 

1855.  March  21st  Cornelius  A.  Cooper. 

1856.  "  18th  Richard  Atkinson. 

1857.  "  17th  Richard  Atkinson. 

1858.  "  16th  George  L.  Baxter. 

1859.  "  15th  John  B.  Brennan. 

1860.  "  20th  Richard  Atkinson. 

1861.  "  28th  John  Stevens. 

1862.  "  18th  Richard  Atkinson. 

1863.  "  17th  David  Quackinbush. 

Elected  at  annual  election  under  amended  charter  for  the 
terin  of  one  \'ear  : 

1863.    May  26th  David  Quackinbush. 

"      31st  David  Quackinbush. 
"      30th  William  H.  Pemberton. 

29th  William  H.  Pemberton. 
"      28th  William  H.  Pemberton. 

26th  William  H.  Pemberton. 
"      25th  Edward  Martin, 
under    amended  charter 


1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
Elected 
years  : 
1870. 
1872. 
1874. 
1876. 
1878. 
1880. 
1882. 
1884. 
1886. 
1888. 
1890. 


for    the   term  of  two 


May  17th  Edward  Martin. 
"      21st  Edward  Martin. 
"      19  th  Azro  Fowler. 
"      16th  George  R.  Crawford. 
"      21st  David  Quackinbush. 
"      19th  Henry  Huss. 
"      16th  John  Van  Santvoord. 

20th  William  J.  Collins. 
"      18th  Jared  Sandford. 
"      15th  David  Quackint)ush. 

20th  Jared  Sandford. 


IIISTOKV    ()!•    MOT  XT  VERSOS 


49 


The  Presidents  ol  ihc  village  i>l  W'esl  Moiiut  Wtiioii  jn'ior 
Lo  its  iiicorporalioii  had  Ijccii  :  Christian  Rdss,  Josepli  Btlk- 
sheiin,  Horace  Looniis  and  John  \'aii  Saiilvoord. 

MAYORS. 

lilected  lor  two  years  umler  llie  eily  eharter  ol  l.s;)2: 
1SU2.    May   17th  ICduard  1".  Uriish,  M.D. 
1894.       "     15lh  lidsoii  Lewis. 
189G.       "     19th  Edwin  \V.  I-'iske. 
1S98.       "     17th  Edwin  W.  I'iske. 

1900.  15th  Edwin  W.  I"iske. 

Elected  tindjr  the  amended  charier  by  which  the  nninici- 
pal  election  was  held  in  November  instead  of  in  .May  as  herc- 

int'i  ire  : 

1901.  .Nov.  5lh  Edwin  \V.  I'iske. 

TRi:sTi:i:s. 

Ivlected  Annually. 
March,  1  sr)4-. 

Ste|)hen  Bo^^arl,  John   H.   Hrennan,    William   Saxton,  Thos. 
Jones  and  Jos.  S.  ('ire;^ory. 
March,  18,'),'). 

Cornelius    A.    Coo])cr,    Richard    ,\tkinson,    William  Saxton, 
Josci)li  \'.  Marsli  and  John  O.  A.  Butler. 
March,  Is,"));. 

Cornelius  A.  Coo[)er,   Richard  Atkinson,    Jose])h    \.  Marsh, 
Drake  I'.  Todd  and  Samuel  T.  Jennings. 
.March,  1857. 

Richard  Atkinson,  Samuel  B.  Wilcox,  Edward  J.  Small,  deorge 
L.  Baxter  and  Henry  Lohnian. 
March,  1858. 

Robert  H.  llatlicld,  (icorgc  L.  Baxter,  Henry  l.ohman,  Sam- 
uel li.  Wilcox  and  John  B.  Brenn;in. 
March,  1859. 

Robert   (f.    Ilaltield,    John    li.    Brenn;in,    (".eorge  1,.  Baxter, 
William  Saxton  .and  Richard  .\tkinson. 
March,  1800. 

William  II.  Dusenbury,  Henry  i^ohman,  J ohn  Stevens,  Richard 
.Atkinson  and  Samuel  T.  Jennings. 
March,  isGl. 

John  Stevens,  Richard  Atkinson,  S;unuel  T.  Jeiuiings,  Henry 
I.ohinan  and  Havid  (Juacki nbush. 
Marcli,  1802. 

Richard  .\tkinson,   Henry   1. ohm  in,   H.ivid  Ouackinbush  ;ui(i 
Edmund  Hoole. 
March,  18(53. 

David  Quackinbush,  William  H.  Pemberlon,  Henry  Lohnian 
and  (Gilbert  W.  Barnes. 
2(5th  May,  1863. 
For  three  years. 
William  Braidwood,  Michael  B.  May. 

For  two  years, 
(iilbert  W.  Barnes,  Samuel  S.  Moore. 
For  one  ^-ear. 
Ivdimmd  Hoole,  James  T.aylor. 

;!lst  .May,  1804. 
Ivdmund  Hoole,  James  Taylor. 
30th  .May,  18(55. 
Stephen    Bogarl,    John   Stevens,    and  I.   Ivdw.ard   Ireland  to 
till  a  vacancy. 
29ih  May,  180(;. 
Michael    B.  May,  .\nthony   Bennett,  and  Robert  J.   L.aw  to 
till  a  vacancy. 
28ih  .May,  1807. 
David  Ou.'ickinliush,  John  H.  Johnston. 


20lh  .May,  1808. 
James  .M.  Chichester,  R.  J.  Wheeler. 
25th  .May,  1809. 
I'or  three  ye.ars. 
Anthony  Baylis,  Aaron  R.  Haight. 

I'or  two  years. 
Philip  Lucas,  Jr.,  Charles  Iv.  Raymond. 
I'or  one  year. 
Ciilbert  W.  Barnes,  Jacob  Beidlingmeycr. 
17ih  -May,  1870. 
Cieorge  R.  Crawford,  Win.  1'.  lislerbrook. 
10th  .May,  1871. 
I'or  three  years. 
Charles  E.  Raymond,  l*hili|)  Lue;is,  Jr. 
I'or  one  year. 
Azro  I'owler. 
21st  .May,  is 72. 
I'or  three  years. 
Anthony  Baylis,  Azro  I'owler. 
For  one  year. 
William  Braidwood. 
20th  .May,  1873. 
Oeorge  R.  Crawlord,  Jacob  Jaeger. 
19th  .May,  1874. 
William  P.  Ivsterbrook,  Beekman  \'an  (">aasbcck. 
ISth  .May,  1875. 
David  (Juaekinbush,  dideon  D.  Pond. 
10th  .May,  1870. 
Ch.arles  E.  Raymond,  Jarvis  C.  Howard. 
15th  .May,  1877. 
William  P.  Esterbrook,  Henry  Huss. 
21st  .May,  1878. 
Cideon  D.  Pond,  Oliver  Dyer,  and  Jos.  S.    Clark    to   till  a 
vac.incv. 
21st  .May,  1879. 
1st  ward,  James  O.  Hunt. 
2d       ••      William  L  Collins. 
.3d       "      Thomas  11.  llorton, 
4lh      "      I'rederick  W.  Weiss. 

19lh  .May,  1880. 
1st  w.ird,  Simon  .M.  Saunders. 
2d       "      Jose])li  S.  Clark. 
3d       "      .Marvin  B.  Palmer. 
4th      "      Horace  Looniis. 

17th  May,  1881. 
1st  w.ird,  ("lideoii  D.  Pond. 
2d       ■■      William  .M.  Denman  and 

Alfred  Coolev. 
3d       "      (leorge  W.  Le  Roy. 
4th      "      Jeremiah  J.  .Moore. 

16th  .May,  1882. 
1st  ward,  John  L.  Piper. 
2d       ••      William  J.  Collins. 
3d       "      Cieorge  C.  .\])pell. 
4th      "      Horace  Looniis. 

15th  .May,  1883. 
1st  ward,  ('.ideon  D.  Pond. 
2d       "      William  W.  McCIellan. 
3d       "      (ieorge  W.  Le  Koy. 
4th      "      (Hto  Hufeland. 

20th  May,  1884. 
1st  w.ird,  James  (i.  .Min.-ird. 
2d       "      William  liiiimeluih. 
3(1       "      Herni;in  Steriih;igen. 
+th      "       L'lmes  .N.  Lockh.irt. 


50 


HISTORY   OF   MOUNT  VERNON. 


19lh  May,  1885. 
1st  ward,  William  R.  Lewis. 
2(1       "      James  L.  Warren. 
3d       "      William  W.  McClellan. 
4th      "      Theophile  Euphrat. 

18th  May,  1886. 
1st  ward,  Fred.  Mager. 
2d       "      William  H.  Van  Arsdale. 
3d       "      Herman  Sternhagen. 
4-th      "      George  C.  Appell. 

17th  May,  1887. 
1st    ward,  Da\nd  C.  Curtis. 
2d       "      Charles  C.  Bigelow. 
3d       "      Samuel  Crawford. 
4-th      "      Henry  Esser. 
5th      "      Wm.  W.  McClellan,  2  years. 
Edw.  S.  Newell,  1  year, 
loth  May,  1888. 
1st  ward,  Norman  A.  Lawlor. 
2d       "      Edward  A.  Howland. 
3d       "      William  J.  Fee. 
4th     "     George  C.  Appell. 
5th      "      Samuel  Bernstein. 

21st  May,  1889. 
1st  ward,  Bartholomew  McGrane. 
2d       "      Edwin  W.  Fiske. 
3d       "      William  Archer. 
4th      "      William  H.  Ferris. 
5th      "      William  W.  McClellan. 

January,  1890. 
Edward  S.  Newell  was  appointed 
to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  1)3-  the 
resignation  of  William  W.  Mc- 
Clellan. 

20th  May,  1890. 
1st  ward,  Frederick  Earl. 
2d       "      Edward  A.  Howland, 
Clarence  S.  McClellai", 
1  year  to  fill  vacancy. 
3d       "      Albert  F.  Ges:heidt. 
4th     "     George  C.  Appell. 
\  Frederick  Johnson, 

1  year  to  fill  vacancy. 
5th      "      Robert  W.  Macgowan. 
Chas.  M.  Moseman, 
1  year  to  fill  vacancy. 
19th  May,  1891. 
1st  ward,  W.  L.  Touniine. 
2d       "      William  A.  Anderson. 
3d       "      Louis  N.  Smith. 
4th      "      Henry  Wilken. 
5th      "      Edgar  K.  Brown. 
The  X'illage  Clerks  had  been,  in  their  order,  Pelham  L. 
McClellan,  W.    P.    Sleight,   Charles    T.    Hathaway,  George 
Stevens,   James   H.  Jenkins  and  William  L.   Milligan.  By 
operation  of  the  incorporating  act,  which  went  into  effect  on 
the  22d  of  March,  1892,  Jared  Sandford  became  the  first 
Mayor  of  the  city,  and  Wm.  L.  Milligan,  the  first  City  Clerk, 
both  having  been  village  officers. 

ALDERiMEN. 

Elected,  17th  May,  1892. 
1st  ward,  Charles  F.  Bruning. 

(lustavus  Kessler. 
2d     "        Theodore  Taylor. 

Fred  Mager. 


4th 
5th 


2(1 
3d 
4th 
5th 


3d  ward  William  A.  Anderson. 
David  C.  Curtis. 
Charles  E.  Johnson. 
Albert  S.  Jenks. 
Richard  B.  Cassebeer. 
Samuel  J.  Johnson. 
18th  May,  1893. 
1st  ward,  Albert  A.  Ulcht. 
2d       "      Edwin  W.  Fiske. 
3d       "      Thomas  R.  Hodge. 
4th  William  L.  Milligan. 

5th      "      Robert  W.  Macgowan. 

15th  May,  1894. 
1st  ward,  William  C.  Many. 

Frank  M.  Tichenor. 
Daniel  W.  Whitmore. 
William  D.  Grant. 
Adrian  A.  Buck. 
21st  May,  1895. 
1st  ward,  Walter  C.  Reid. 
2d       "      Herbert  E.  Walters. 
3d       "      William  G.  Ctmklin. 
4th      "      (ieorge  C.  Weiss,  M.D. 
5th      "      Thomas  A.  Fletcher. 

19th  May,  1896. 
1st  ward,  Harvey  Armstrong. 
2d       "      Stafford  H.  Cowan. 
3d       "      Edward  A.  Howland. 
4th      "      William  D.  Grant. 
5th  Samuel  Fiske. 

18th  May,  1897. 
1st  ward,  Albert  A.  Ulcht. 

John  A.  Cline. 
William  D.  Howe. 
Eriand  Andeberg. 
Adolph  W.  Wallander. 
17th  May,  1898. 
1st  ward,  William  A.  Roedell. 

Edward  T.  Hayward. 
J.  Ge(jrge  Hermes. 
William  D.  Grant. 
James  D.  Connor. 
16th  May,  1899. 
1st  ward,  Jesse  E.  Holdredge. 

Clarence  S.  Merrill. 
J.  Mortimer  Bell. 
Charles  Weber. 
Thomas  A.  Fletcher. 
15th  May,  1900. 
1st  ward,  William  A.  Roedell. 
2d       "      Edward  T.  Hayward. 
3d       "      J.  George  Hermes. 
4th     "      J.  A.  B.  Stillings. 
5th      "      Charles  H.  Lovett. 
5th  November,  1901. 


2d 
3d 
4th 
5th 


2d 
3d 
4th 
5th 


2d 
3d 
4th 
5th 


1st 

\\ 

ard,  long  term, 

Wm.  McGonigle. 

short  " 

Jesse  E.  Holdredge. 

2d 

\\ 

ard,  long  " 

Wm.  F.  Maxon. 

short  " 

J.  Elmer  Briggs. 

3d 

w 

ard,  long  " 

Frederick  W.  Clark. 

short  " 

James  P.  Hayes. 

4th 

w 

ard,  long  " 

J.  A.  B.  Stillings. 

short  " 

Louis  Kernstock. 

5th 

ard,  long  " 

James  K.  Fuller. 

It 

short  " 

.\d(>l])h  W.  Wallander. 

COL.  C()R.\i;lh's  .\ici.i;.\x. 


H  I  s  T  ( )  R  \'  o  I-  \r  or  x  r  y  n  r  so  n 


nil  X()veint)cr,  \'.H)'2. 
Isl  ward,  jtssi'  Iv.  I  Ii)l(lrc'cl<rc. 
2(1       "      Thomas  A.  McKciiiii-ll. 
^  3(1       "      I  allies  I*.  Hayes. 

•4-th      "      Charles  Weber. 

r.th  Ailolph  \V.  Wallander. 

Tin:  i'Ki:si;xT  mi  nicipai.  ()1-i-ici-;rs  ari;: 

Mayor,  Hdwiii  \\ .  I'isUe. 

City  Iu(l,u;e,  I'rauk  A.  Heiineli. 

Clerk  of  Ciiy  Court,  II.  J.  Collins. 

City  Court  Marsh.'d,  J.  J.  Moore. 

Comptroller,  James  \'.  Siiii])soii. 

Clerk  (jf  Arrears,  I'raiik  .\.  ("dover. 

City  Treasurer,  Charles  \V.  Str.iul). 

Reeeiver  of  Taxes,  Colin  MeKeiizie. 

Commissioner  of  I'uhlie  Works,  John  O'Toolc. 

Depulv  Commissioner  of  I'lililic  Works,  Wm.  C,\  Manv 

Corporation  Counsel,  Willi;iin   |.  M;irshall. 

City  Clerk,  William  .\.  llovt. 

City  Ph\'sieian,  S.  Oscar  Myers,  .M.l>. 

Health  Officer,  H.  iMi.i^enc  Smith,  M.i). 

Chief  of  Police,  Jeremiah  C.  I'oky. 

Commissioner  of  Charities,  Peter  1  »c  Witl. 

Inspector  of  Biiildini^s,  James  H.  Perry. 

sipi-:r\is()ks. 

Edward  W.  Storms,  Duncan  .S.  Campbell,  William  A.  Ander- 
son, .\lbcrt  S.  Jenks  and  Ivdi^ar  K.  Brown. 

jrsTicHs  OP  Till-:  pi;aci;. 

.\lbert  I",  (ieschcidt,  Jr.,  Sydney  .\.  Symc. 

aliii;rmi:.\. 

Jesse  E.   Holdred,i;c,  William  .McCionigle,  William   I'.  Maxon, 
Thomas  X.  McKennell,  James  P.  Ha\-es,  I'rederick  W. 
Clark,  J.  A.  H.  Stillin-;s,  Charles  Weber,  Adoljih 
W.    W.illandcr  and   James    K.  Puller. 

ASSi;SSORS. 

Charles    II.    Weiss,  John  Iv.  Marsh.iU  and 
John  H.  Cordes. 

POl.ICI-:  HOARD. 

Jo'iii  J.  .\Iuri)hy,  James  .\.  Blanehard,  William  II(jbb\-  and 
Siej^fried  Wurzbur^r. 

CIVIL  SER\  ICI-:  commissi()xi:rs. 

John  C.  M.-Xcilly,  Il.irry  L.  Lovell  and  .\u^ust 
C.  Thoma. 

BOARD  OP  I-IRI-:  co.mmissioxi:rs. 

Charles  II.  Ileinshon,  Samuel  .X.  lloaji  and  Louis 
11.  Kronleld. 

BOARD  OI'  IIICALTII. 
W.   H.  Purdy,  M.I).,  Henry  Muscnius  .ind  Leslie  \'.  Batenian. 

SIMMARV. 

Mount  Vernon  to-day  covers  an  area  of  four  sipiare  miles, 
divided  into  five  wards.  It  has  more  than  thirty  miles  of 
well  p.aved  streets,  ke])t  in  ijood  reii.'iir  .and  ihoroui^hly  clean  ; 


those  in  the  residential  section  are  well  shaded  by  over;ireh- 
inj;  trees.  Its  streets  <ire  lighted  by  a  hundred  and  tweiilv- 
live  arc,  and  about  ;i  hundred  ineaiideseeiit  lijjhts,  in  addition 
to  seven  hundred  <^ns,  and  a  hundred  and  fifty  na]itha  lij,'hts. 
There  are  lour  hundred  and  sixty  lire  hydrants  and  fortv 
miles  of  sewer.  It  has  three  banks,  four  hotels,  a  hos|)ital, 
ten  |)ublic  schools,  including,'  a  hijih  school,  one  ])jirish  school 
and  lour  |)rivale  schools.  It  has  also  .'i  jiublic  ])ark,  lour 
public  halls,  a  lhe;iter  or  opera  house,  and  another  construct- 
in^',  twenty-five  churches,  ;in(l  a  public  library  cont;iininji 
eleven  thousand  volumes.  The  library  is  located  in  the  Ili;.'h 
School  Huildiii;,'.  In  l'.M)l,  Mayor  I'iske  secured  from  .Andrew 
Carne<,ne  the  ])romise  of  .S.'i.l.OOO  to  erect  a  buildinj,'  for  the 
library.  This  amount  Mr.  Carne^jie  subse(jueiUly  incre.'ised 
to  .$,")(),()()().  Alier  sonic  delay — ap|)<-irently  unavoidable — a 
site  was  purchased  with  a  hundred  ti-et   fronta;ie   on  I'irst 


Tik-plioiK-  UuiUIiiii,'.  .\.  V.  Ti-k-plii)!!!.-  Co. 


avenue,  south  ot'Pirst  street,  and  extendins;  through  to  Secord 
avenue.    On  this  lot  the  work  of  buildini:  will  beuin  at  once. 

There  arc  tour  ncwspajicrs,  two  of' them  daily.  A  Bo;.rd 
of  Trade  and  ;i  successful  Buildin-;  and  Loan  .-Association  are 
evidences  of'  eiuerprise  and  thrif  .  .\  receii  ly  construeltei 
Post  O.lice  has  all  the  modern  a|)i)liances,  and  jirovides  six- 
teen outtioiiii;,  and  the  same  number  of  ineomiiiL:  daily  mails. 
The  Harlem  branch  of  the  Xew  Vork  Central,  and  the  X.  V., 
.X.  H.  iv:  II.  R;iilro;ids  have  stations  in  the  city:  on  the  former 
are  eii;hty-two  d;iily  trains  between  Mount  \  ernon  .and  Xcw 
Vork,  and  litiy-two  on  the  l.itter:  besides,  there  is  trolley 
road  connection  between  the  two  cities,  by  means  of  which 
one  may  ride  from  Mount  X'ernon  to  the  B.attery  in  Xew 
Vork  for  an  eii^ht-cent  fare.  There  is  also  trollev-liiie  con- 
nection with  Voiikers,  Bronxville,  Tuekahoe,  Pelham,  Xew 
Rochelle  and  While  Pl;iins.  It  is  .-ilniost  iiiijiossilile  to  over- 
estini;ite  the  .id vanta>;es  which  .Mount   N'ernoii   has  derived 


HISTORY    OF    M  O  U  N  T   V  E  R  X  O  N 


from  the  introduction  of  the  Union  Railway  Company's 
trolle3'  system.  While  comjjlaints  are  occasionally  heard 
of  insufficient  accommodation,  or  of  delays,  the  disf^runtled 
ones  do  not  make  due  allowance  for  the  obstacles  to 
be  overcome  in  perfecting  an  extensive  transportation 
project  to  be  couducted  over  highways  accessible  to  all, 
and  where  traffic  interruptions  may  at  any  time  occur; 
nor  do  thev  recall  the  annoyance  to  which  they  wore  sub- 
jected before  the  trolley  roads  gave  them  the  facilities  for 
travel  which  they  now  enjoy.  The  New  York  and  I'ortchester 
Railroad  Company  has  surveyed  a  route  that  will  pass  through 
this  city,  and  the  line,  when  built,  will  furnish  another  means 
of  rapid  transit.  In  addition,  there  is  cheap  freight  trans- 
portation b_v  water  from  New  York  by  way  of  the  sound  and  the 
Hutchinson  River  to  the  East  Chester  dock. 

The  telegraph  and  telephone  service  is  complcLc.  There 
is  an  efficient  police  force  com])rising  a  chief,  two  sergeants 
and  twenty-three  patrolmen.  The  X'olunteer  Fire  Department 
is  conceded  to  be  the  best  in  the  State.  There  arc  three  hun- 
dred enrolled  members,  divided  into  twelve  companies,  viz: 
Two  hook  and  ladder  companies,  two  steamer  companies, 
one  chemical  engine  company,  six  hose  companies  and  a  jiatrol 
company.  They  have  modern  firehouses  and  an  ade(iuate 
fire  alarm  system.  There  are  three  planing  and  moulding 
mills,  two  of  them  having  also  extensive  yards  and  ware- 
houses for  the  storage  and  sale  of  lumber  and  other  l)uil(lers' 
supplies.  There  is  a  guitar  factorv,  a  shirt  f actory,  two  carriage 
factories,  an  electric  clock  factory,  a  brewery  and  an  automobile 
charging-station.  The  merchants  areenergetic,  up-to-date,  and 
hence  successful.  There  are  numerous  social,  literary,  musi- 
cal and  political  clubs,  besides  fraternal,  trade,  labor  and 
benevolent  organizations,  other  than  those  already  noticed, 


resigned  to  meet  every  requirement.  Mount  \'crnon's  real 
estate  is  assessed  at  $2-l-,000,000.  It  has  twenty-five  thou- 
sand inhabitants  of  a  more  than  ordinarily  desirable  class. 
There  are  no  millionaires  and  no  paupers;  there  is  no  "smart 
set,"  no  "four  hundred"  with  liveried  flunkies  to  accentuate 
their  unchecked  assumption  and  vulgar  disjilay  ;  tlic  commun- 
ity exemjilihes  the  sentiment  that 

"The  riches  of  the  commonweallh 
Are  free,  strong  minds,  and  hearts  of  health ; 
And  more  to  her  than  gold  or  grain, 
The  cunning  hand  and  cultured  l)rain." 

The  present  population  has  been  reached  by  an  annual 
increase  of  more  than  a  thousand  in  the  last  decade.  The 
next  decennial  census  will  doubtless  show  that  we  have  at- 
tained, if  not  exceeded,  the  f{)rty  thousand  mark. 

The  roads  in  the  vicinity  are,  for  the  most  part,  unusually 
good,  and  the  scenery  ])icturesque,  offering  irresistible  at- 
tractions to  horsemen,  wheelmen  and  automoliilists.  Lying 
midway  between  the  Hudson  River  and  the  Sound,  it  is  con- 
venient to  both,  and  is  thirteen  miles  from  the  Grand  Cen- 
tral Depot.  It  is  nearer  to  the  Bronx,  Pelham  Bay,  and 
\'an  Cortlandt  Parks  than  is  any  part  of  New  York  City  below 
the  Harlem  River.  It  is,  at  the  highest  ])oinl,  one  hundred 
and  eightv  feet  aljove  tide-water. 

One  can  onlv  predict  oi  the  future  from  a  knowledge  of 
the  past;  and  the  growlh  and  ])rosperit3'  alread\'  attained 
by  Mount  X'ernon  leads  to  a  reasonable  belief  that  it  will 
surpass  its  previous  record  in  the  years  to  come,  thcjugh  it 
is  quite  possible — indeed,  it  appears  inevitable — that  eventu- 
ally it  will  be  absorbed  by,  and  become  a  not  inconspicuous 
part  of  the  great  metropolis  of  the  Western  Hemisphere. 


11.  Hic.HNi-:  SMITH,  M.n. 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  V. 


SCHOOLS. 


TliL- hisiorv  i)t  ihe  schnols  ot  Mount  \'crnon  is  the  historv 
c)(  its  proj^rcss  and  pr()S])crity.  IIduic  Industrial  Associatiun 
N  ).  1,  of  W'w  Vi)rl<  City,  by  which  Mount  \'criion  was  founded 
in  I80I,  was  made  up  of  men  of  small  niians  hut  lar^^e  lirains. 
They  knew  the  value,  nay,  the  necessity  of  a  ^ood  education; 
and  in  layinLr  out  the  villa.tre  where  they  intended  to  dwell 
and  re;ir  their  families,  they  set  a))art  tour  school  ]ilols,  each  a 


The  staid  old  farmers  of  the  town  soon  realized,  that  in 
school  matters,  as  in  every thin;,-^  else,  they  had  a  very  lively, 
aji^^ressi ve,  disturbinj;  element  amonji  them.  As  soon  as  the 
UKMuhers  of  Home  Industrial  Association  Xo.  1  came  flockinj; 
into  Mount  X'ernon,  the  old  residents  of  the  town  of  I--asl- 
ehester  were  only  too  willinjf  to  let  iheiii  have  a  school  dis- 
trict 1)\-  themselves. 


Soiilb  Kiflli  Avenue.  Ni>rlh  iVorii  I'oiirlh  Street 
Hiuli  Sclioiil.  Soiilli   I'liiirtli  Avenue 


Sclmol  Ni).  1.  Souih  Filth  Avenue 
Sdutli  I'ourih  A  venue.  South  iViini  I"<nn  lli  Strii  l 


hundred  feel  in  front  ;ind  rear  ;ind  two  hundred  and  ten  feet 
in  (lc|)th.  ()n  one  of  these  jilots  the  Hijih  School  is  htiilt,  on 
another,  S.-hool  N'o.  1,  on  another  School  No.  .'i,  and  on  the 
fourth  School  .No.  4. 

Mount  Vernon  was,  when  laid  out  in  iSol,  a  part  of  the 
Town  of  Eastchcster.  The  latter  was  divided  into  three  school 
districts,  each  (if  which  was  independent  of  the  other,  and 
was  governed  bv  its  own  Hoard  of  Hducation. 


.Vccordin^ly  in  the  s|)iin>:  of'  l,s,")2,  School  Ihsliict  No.  4- 
was  carved  out  of  School  Histiict  No.  1,  by  the  Suj  ervisor, 
Town  Clerk  and  Town  Su]iei  intcndeni  <T  Schools. 

Its  first  meeting  was  held  june  lO,  ts,')li,  at  which 
James  W.  Comstock,  Samuel  .Munson  and  Ivdmund  Hoole  wete 
elected  school  trustees,  and  ligbert  S.  Manning  district  clerk. 

Another  school  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  district 
was  held  in  the  latter  ])art  of'  June,   isr>2,  at  which  it  was 


H  I  S  T  ()  \<  V    O  F    M  O  r  X  T    \'  K  R  X  O  X 


resolved  thai  ihc  trustees  should  hire  suitable  apartments 
for  school  purposes  and  employ  a  teacher. 

The  school  was  located  on  the  second  floor  of  the  un- 
finished house  of  John  L.  Ouerin,  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Fifth  avenue  and  Third  street,  Mount  Vernon.  In  the  fall  of 
1852,  it  was  moved  to  Journeau's  Hall,  on  the  corner  of 
Fifth  avenue  and  Fourth  street. 

At  the  same  time,  work  was  begun  on  the  school-house 
on  Fourth  avenue  near  Fourth  street,  where  the  High  School 
now  stands:  and  in  the  spring  of  1853,  the  school  was  moved 
into  the  new  building. 

In  the  following  winter,  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  district,  it  was  determined  to  obtain  from  the  legis- 
lature, a  special  act  of  incorporation.    This  act  was  adopted 


er  as  president.  Josiah  H.  Zabriskie  then  became  the  sccre 
tarv.  With  a  few  intervals  of  rest  and  retirement,  Mr.  Za 
briskie  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  more 
than  fort\-  years:  and  during  twenty  3'ears  of  that  long  period 
he  was  its  president. 

When  he  became  the  secretary  of  the  Board  he  was  a 
teacher  in  School  No.  3,  of  New  York  City,  on  the  corner  o 
Hudson  and  Grove  streets.  From  that  time  until  now  he 
has  been  a  teacher  in  or  a  principal  of  one  of  the  New  York 
City  Schools;  and  in  a  hale  and  hearty  old  age  is  still  in  the 
harness,  performing  his  duties  with  all  the  skill  and  knowledge 
which  nearly  fifty  years  of  teaching  have  given  him,  and  with 
much  more  vigor  and  energy,  than  many  of  those  not  half 
his  aije. 


rnion  Hill  School  No.  0 
School  Xo.  ."),  North  Hijfh  Street 


School  No.  3.  Eleventh  Avenue 
School  No.  '.).  V  ernon  Park 


June  8,  1853,  and  is  entitled,  "An  Act  to  Establish  Free 
Schools  in  Scho<il  District  No.  4,  in  the  Town  of  Eastchester, 
Westchester  County." 

I'nder  and  by  virtue  of  this  act,  a  meeting  of  the  school 
district  was  held  on  the  15th  daj-  of  Julv,  1853,  at  which 
Messrs.  John  Stevens,  John  F.  Luther,  William  Hathaway, 
Samuel  T.  Jennings,  Frederick  C.  Beschornian,  David  Dema- 
rest,  James  C.  Stephens,  Amos  Cheney  and  William  H. 
Price  were  elected  members  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

John  Stevens,  the  founder  of  Mount  \'ernf)n,  and  the 
president  of  Home  Industrial  Association  No.  1,  was  elected 
the  first  president  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

In  1854-,  George  W.  Coo]5er,  one  of  the  ablest  of  all  the 
pioneers,  was  made  president.  James  C.  Stejjhens  was  the 
first  secretary  of  the  Board,  and  in  1855,  succeeded  Mr.  Coop- 


To  Mr.  Zabriskie  the  city  of  Mount  \ernon  owes  a  deeji 
debt  of  gratitude.  He  has  played  a  very  prominent  part  in 
making  its  public  school  sv'stem  one  of  the  best  in  the  land. 

Of  all  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  who  held 
office  in  the  Fifties,  he  is  the  only  survivor.  Of  those  in  the 
Sixties  there  is  another.  Dr.  Henry  C.  Jones,  who  for  manv 
years  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  Mr.  Zabriskie,  in  secur- 
ing everything  for  the  education  of  the  children  of  Mount 
\'ernon,  which  good  judgment  and  a  progressive  spirit  sug- 
gested. 

To  go  over  the  list  of  members  of  the  Board  of  Education 
of  School  District  No.  +,  of  the  Town  of  Eastchester  is  to 
read  its  roll  of  honor. 

In  1856  and  '57,  John  L.  A.  Butler  was  the  president 
of  the  Board;  in  1858  and  '59,  Robert  G.  Hatfield;  in  1860, 


WILLIAM    lli:XKV    ITRItV,    M.  I). 


HISTORY    (  )  I'    M  ( )  r  X  T    \'  Iv  R  N  ' )  \ 


aiul  '(",2,  Jacnl)  l.aha.u'h:  in  ISC,.'},  N,,ali  S.  Whill.K-k  :  in 
ISC)!-,  David  yuackiiihush,  anil  in  ISdf),  SanuK'!  T.  IcMUiiii>,'.s. 

Ivvcrv  one  of  these  nun  iimk  a  proniiiiciil  part  in  the 
(k'vel()i)eiiK'nt  of  Mount  X'crimn,  not  only  ol'  its  schools,  hul 
its  government  in  jjencral. 

1  p  to  this  lime  llie  school  district  had  had  seven  prin- 
cipals tis  follows  : 

A])poinled.  Kesi^^ned. 

John  Graves    June  .">,  lNr)2.        Sept.  I'J,  lsr>;?. 

John  Oakley    Sept.  I'.i,  l.sr,;{       A|)ril  1,  \s:,7. 

\V.  L.  \'.  Raird    April  1,  Isr.T.        June  1,  is,")?. 

J.  l-rank  \Vnf,dit   July  1,  Isr.T.         April  1,  ISf,'.). 

William  II.  Bailey   \\)n\  1,  is,-)'.).        Sept.  1,  ISiU. 

John  A.  Nichols   Sept.  1,  iSfil.        Jan.  1,  ISCk 

Bcekman  V'anGaasheek       Jan.  1,  ISfU.  |:in.  1,  ISC).". 


John  A.  .Nichols  left  .Mount  \'ernon,  to  accept  the  ])rinei- 
palship  of  one  of  the  Vonkers  Public  Schools. 

.Mr.  \';in  (iaasheek  went  into  business  for  a  while,  but  soon 
resumed  teachinj;  as  a  jirofession,  filling  the  principalshij)  of 
the  liastchester  Public  School  on  South  I'ifth  avenue. 

School  District  No.  l-,  included  not  only  almost  all  of  the 
incori)or;ite(l  villa<j;c  of  .Mount  X'ernon,  but  that  ])arl  of  the 
Town  of  I'^astchester  south  of  .Mount  N'ernon,  known  ;is  Wash- 
in^^tonville.  South  Washinjjton ville  and  Jacksonville,  and  that 
part  of  Wakefield  which  is  north  of  Nineteenth  avenue  (lh;it 
bein^  the  hi^rhway  which  leads  to  Woodlawn  Cemetery). 

Por  the  convenience  of  the  children  in  this  lower  section 
of  the  district  an  old  barn  on  Twelfth  avenue  near  I'irst 
street  was  hired  as  a  school-house,  and  on  the  I'.Hh  day  of 
December,  lS,-><),  a  public  school  was  established  therein,  with 


School   No.  4,  I'iltli  Avenue,  near  Sixth  Street 
Clicster  Hill  School,  .No.  2 


School  No.  7,  South  I'ultou  .\  venue 
School  No.  N,  Howard  Street 


Mr.  Graves  became  a  cler<jynian  of  the  Protestant  Rpi.sco- 
pal  Church.  For  a  considerable  time  he  was  located  at  Wash- 
itif^ton,  District  of  Columbia. 

.Mr.  Raird  was  priiu-ipal  for  only  two  months,  .Mr.  Nichols 
for  two  years  and  four  months,  and  Mr.  \an("iaasbeek  for  a 
year. 

-Mr.  Oakley  started  a  i)rivate  school  in  Mount  \'crnon 
on  his  retirement  from  the  princii)alshi])  of  the  public  school, 
and  he  maintained  it  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

J.  Frank  Wrij^ht  left  the  principalship  of  the  -Mount  Ver- 
non school,  to  accc])t  a  position  as  a  teacher  in  one  of  the 
New  York  City  schools.  He  soon  thereafter  became  a  princi- 
pal, and  that  position  he  hlls  to  this  day,  second  to  none 
in  abilitv  and  enerirv  of  all  his  associates. 


Mrs.  William  .\tkinson  as  the  teacher. 

In  1S(),'{,  Miss  Louisa  Ferry  succeeded  Mrs.  .\tkinson  as 
the  prineip;d  of  this  school,  and  .Miss  Susann.ah  Hussin.tr  was 
ajijiointed  her  assistant. 

In  1S()2,  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  was  spent  in 
enlaruin,!,'  and  somewhat  betterin,-,:  the  school-house  on  F(mrih 
avenue. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  lS(>r),  Joseph  S.  Wood  was 
appointed  as  the  jirineipal  of  the  j)ublie  school  of  School 
District  No.  of  the  Town  of  Ivastchester.  He  was  a  1  card- 
less  youth  only  twenty-two  years  old,  who  looked  even 
younjrer  than  his  years.  He  had  ,a;raduated  from  the  New 
York  Free  .\cademy  (now  the  Colle,ire  of  the  City  of  New 
York)   in  1S()1,  with  high  honors:  and  had  been,  tor  twt) 


G2 


H  1  S  r  ( )  K  V   O  F    M  ( )  IT  X  T    \'  Iv  K  X  O  N 


years  ])ri()r  to  January  1,  ISC)."),  ihc  Clerk  of  the  Coojier 
I'liion,  where  he  had  had  the  i^eneral  siiiiervisic )ii  of  that 
institution;  and  for  one  year  after  he  lieeanie  tlie  prineipal 
of  the  Mount  Vernon  Schools  he  continued  to  be  the  super- 
intendent of  the  Cooper  Union  Nijjht  Scho{)l. 

At  that  time  the  Board  of  Education  consisted  of  Samuel 
T.  Jenniiifis,  president,  and  Messrs.  J.  H.  Zabriskie,  William 
Smeaton.  Dr.  Henry  C.  Jones,  David  Quackinbush,  Charles 
Iv.  Manninjj,  Donald  Ferjjtison,  Oeorse  II.  Bussing  and  Dr. 
Joseph  S.  Gretjory. 

It  would  have  been  a  difficult  matter,  in  a  community 
ten  times  as  large  as  that  of  Mount  \'ernon,  to  have  found 
nine  men  as  intelligent,  as  positive,  as  self-reliant,  and  as 
ready  to  stand  for  their  convictions,  as  these.  Mr.  Smeaton 
was  the  principal  of  one  of  the  Xew  York  schools  on  East 
Fourteenth  street,  and  Mr.  Zabriskie  was  the  vice-principal 
of  Public  School  No.  41,  on  Greenwich  avenue,  in  New  York 
City.  These  two  men  seldom  agreed  on  any  educational 
question;  and  the  discussions  in  and  out  of  the  Board  of 
Education  were  long  and  frequent.  As  a  general  rule  Dr. 
Jones  and  David  Quackinbush  stood  by  Mr.  Zabriskie,  Dr. 
Gregory  inclined  to  Mr.  Smeaton.  Messrs.  Ferguson,  Manning 
and  Bussing  stood  neutral,  and  so  did  the  president,  Mr. 
Jennings. 

Fortunately  Mr.  Wood  had  the  confidence  and  su])])ort 
of  both  Mr.  Zabriskie  and  Mr.  Smeaton,  and  hence  his  appoint- 
ment was  unanimous. 

At  that  time  School  District  No.  4- had  two  school-houses; 
Number  One  on  the  site  where  the  High  School  now  stands, 
and  Number  Two,  on  Twelfth  avenue  near  First  street.  Num- 
l)er  One  was  moved  several  years  ago  to  the  lot  north  of 
the  High  School  on  South  Fourth  avenue.  It  is  very  much 
the  same  in  appearance  now,  as  it  was  in  the  Sixties  and 
Seventies,  when  the  boys  and  girls  who  are  to-day  among 
the  best  citizens  of  Mount  Vernon,  were  wrestling  with  frac- 
tions and  almost  breaking  their  jaws  with  some  outlandish 
names  in  geography. 

In  1865  the  average  attendance  in  this  school  was  29fi, 
and  the  number  of  teachers  employed  therein,  in  addition  to 
the  principal  was  only  six. 

The  list  was  as  follows:  Principal,  Joseph  S.  Wood,  A. 
M. ;  First  Assistant,  Miss  Annie  News;  Second  Assistant, 
Mrs.  A.  Annie  Bauchle;  Third  Assistant,  Miss  Julia  E.  Cheney; 
Principal  of  the  Primary  Department,  Miss  Lucia  M.  Hale; 
First  Assistant,  Miss  Sarah  M.  Wilson ;  Second  Assistant, 
Miss  Sarah  A.  McKav. 

School  Number  Two  was  the  old  barn  ])reviouslv  referred 
to,  which  the  Board  of  Education  rented  for  $150  a  year. 
When  the  wind  blew,  every  map  on  the  walls  rattled,  and 
when  the  weather  was  cold  the  children  shivered. 

That  building  has  since  been  removed  to  the  corner  of 
Twelfth  and  First  street.  It  has  on  it,  a  sign  "The  Old 
School-Hf)use,"  and  is  occupied  as  a  beer  saloon. 

It  is  fitted  up  much  more  attractively  and  comfortably 
now  that  it  is  used  to  dispense  beer,  than  it  was,  when  it 
was  used  to  disi)ense  knowledge. 

In  this  apology  for  a  school-house,  the  average  attendance 
of  puiils  was  78. 

In  M  irch,  18(55,  Miss  News  resigned  her  ])osition  Jis  first 
assistant  in  School  Number  One,  and  Miss  Abbie  L.  Ely  was 
appointed  in  her  stead.  For  twenty  years  Miss  Ely  filled 
this  position;  and  the  hundreds  of  men  and  women  who 
nrofited  bv  her  marked  ability  as  a  teacher  hold  her  memory 
in  the  highest  esteem. 

Of  the  scores  of  teachers  who  taught  in  the  public  schools 
of  Mount   Vernon,  in  the  Sixties  and  Seventies,  almost  all 


were  highlv  successful;  but  a  few,  who  were  pre-eminently  so, 
are  deserving  of  special  mention.  Two  of  them  are  still  in  the 
employ  of  the  Board  of  Education,  Miss  Mary  E.  Gernon  and 
Miss  Sophie  J.  Mee.  Miss  Gernon  has  filled  the  ])ositions  of 
second  assistant,  first  assistant,  vice-principal  and  principal 
of  School  Number  One,  and  for  several  years  past  has  been 
the  principal  of  School  Number  Seven. 

She  is  one  of  the  alilest,  most  conscientious,  most  pains- 
taking and  most  successful  of  all  the  princij)als  in  the  city. 
She  has  faithfully  performed  her  duties  wherever  she  has  been 
sent  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  wherever  her  influence  has 
been  felt  it  has  been  for  the  good  of  her  pu])ils  and  the  com- 
munity. 

Miss  Mee  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Primary  Department 
of  School  Number  One  since  1865.  In  her  (piiet,  modest  un- 
assuming way,  she  has  done  a  world  of  good  and  has  been 
of  inestimable  value. 

Miss  Lucia  M.  Hale  was  for  more  than  thirty  years  the 
principal  of  the  Primary  Department  of  School  Number  One. 
She  was  a  splendid  teacher  and  a  first-class  discijilinarian. 
Miss  Louisa  Ferry,  the  principal  of  Primar}-  School  Number 
Two,  was  also  one  highly  esteemed  by  all  her  pupils.  She 
died  of  consumption,  after  eight  years  of  faithful  service. 

And  there  is  Miss  Sarah  Allgood,  who  taught  the  infant 
class  in  School  Number  One  until  her  health  failed.  No  one 
can  tell  how  man3'  hundreds  of  little  children  learned,  in  her 
class,  that  love,  not  force,  was  the  guiding  sjjirit. 

For  many  years  School  Number  One  had  the  g(jod  fortune 
to  have  for  its  vice-principal  and  first  and  second  assistants, 
Miss  Abbie  L.  E\y,  Miss  Jerrie  W.  Halsey  and  Miss  Mary  E. 
Gernon.  It  would  be  almost  an  impossibility  to  say  which 
of  them  was  the  best  teacher.  Each  one  excelled  in  some  one 
or  more  branches  of  study;  each  was  equally  earnest,  indefati- 
gable and  unselfish;  but  for  good  nature  and  a  keen  sense  of 
humor,  Miss  Halsey  was  easily  first.  She  and  her  pupils  were 
in  full  symjjathy  with  each  other,  and  the  result  was  a  per- 
fect understanding  and  splendid  results. 

Miss  Ely  taught  in  School  Number  One  from  \St]'>  till 
1885,  Miss  Halsey  from  1S71  till  IX'JO,  and  Miss  Gernon 
from  187.'?  till  she  became  the  principal  of  School  Numljer 
Seven  in  1895. 

Among  the  other  tejichers  who  taught  in  School  District 
Number  Four  between  1870  and  1880,  and  proved  themselves 
especially  worthy  of  commendation  were  Misses  Margaret  J. 
Hagen,  Marv  Fox,  liugenia  Cooper,  Lizzie  Ferguson,  Ida  E. 
Coles,  Isabella  M.  Pattison,  Edith  Cooper,  Ivmeline  A.  Man- 
ing,  Leila  H.  Lockwood,  Mary  C.  Lockwood,  Annie  Iv.  Grah- 
am, Ella  S.  Rankin,  Mary  K.  Carter,  Martha  J.  Jndd  and 
Mary  Irwin. 

The  Misses  Lockwood,  after  resigning  their  positions  in 
the  jjublic  schools,  organized  a  private  school  in  Mount  \'er- 
non,  which  is  still  flourishing,  and  is  one  of  the  attractive 
features  of  the  city. 

Miss  Mary  K.  Carter  graduated  from  School  Number  One; 
and,  as  she  showed  skill  as  an  artist  went  to  the  Cooper 
Union  School  of  Design  for  Women.  There  she  graduated 
with  high  honors,  and  in  1878  was  appointed  teacher  of 
drawing  in  the  Mount  Vernon  schools.  This  position  she 
filled  very  creditably  until  1897,  when  she  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  a  teacher  of  drawing  in  the  New  York  City  Schools. 
Recent  y,  she  was  appointed  as  the  teacher  of  drawing  in  the 
Wadleigh  High  School  of  New  Y'ork  City,  which  position  she 
now  fills.  Miss  Coles  went  to  California,  where  she  taught 
very  successfully  for  several  years.  Misses  Eugenia  Cooper, 
Lizzie  Ferguson,  Annie  E.  Graham  and  Ella  S.  Rankin  resigned 
to  be  married;  Miss  Edith  Cooper  became  an  engraver,  and 


Mi;i,\lLl,lv    S.    I'AC.i;,  D.D.S. 


II  I  S  T  ( )  R  \'    OF    M  ( )  r  X  T    \'  !•:  R  \  ( )  \ 


Misses  I'attison  Maiiiiinj^  were  talveii  awav  hv  tlie  eiild 

hand  ol'  death.  .Nhsses  |udd  and  Irwin,  wlio  he;:an  to  leaeh 
in  .\li)nnt  Xernon  in  IsTS,  are  still  in  the  eni])l()y  of"  llie 
Hoard  of  Ivdueation  of  the  city  of  Mount  X'ernon,  havin;j:  l)een 
in  faithful  and  eontinuous  service  nearl_v  twenty-five  years. 

It  was  not  until  1SG7  that  any  j)upils  refjularly  ^^raduated 
troni  the  Mount  X'ernon  Public  Schools  and  were  j^iven  dijilo- 
nias  by  the  Board  of  Education.  July  22,  1SG7,  the  first 
school  coninienccnient  was  held;  and  on  that  occasion,  six 
|)upils  received  their  diplomas.  They  were  Louisa  \'ea;.;er, 
Ivllen  Wilson,  Anna  Ho^^^art,  Katie  M.-u  tin,  I'rank  k'ni^dit  and 
Ivdward  P.  Knapj). 

In  1S()S  six  more  jjraduated  :  Ida  Coles,  Jennie  l"er- 
,i.;nson,  Amelia  Ro^^ers,  Josc])hine  Clark,  Martha  .Mott  and 
Henjaniin  F.  Quackinbush. 

In  18G9  oidy  four  f^radnated  :  Isabella  M.  I'attison,  Sar.ah 
Ferfjuson,  Eva  Satlerlce  and  Harriet  L.  HoL,';irt. 

In  1870  cij^ht  uradn.ited  :  Herbert  Seymour,  Havid  V. 
Smith,  James  P.  IIai<,dit,  Mary  Lovccraft,  Emma  Carter, 
Sophia  Schmidt,  Oeor'^ianiia  Bussin<j  and  Ilarriel  L.  Mott. 

In  1871  only  three  <jraduated  :  Cora  K.  Duryea,  A<jnes 
C.  Ferffuson  and  Cynthia  H.  Denison. 

What  better  evidence  of  the  fjrou-th  of  Mount  \'ernon  can 
l)e  sxivcn  than  a  comparison  of  these  small  .!,'roui)s  of  from 
three  to  ei^^ht  Lrraduates  a  year,  with  the  two  hundred  a 
year  who  now  j^raduate  from  the  Mount  X'ernon  Grammar 
Schools. 

It  is  but  just  to  add  however,  that  the  course  of  study 
in  the  Grammar  School  of  School  District  Number  Four  was 
nmch  hi<rher  and  more  extended  than  that  of  the  Grammar 
Schools  of  to-day:  in  fact  many  of  the  studies  now  tauf^ht 
in  the  Hij^h  School  were  included  in  the  course  of  study  of  the 
j^raduatinj;  class. 

School  District  Xumber  Four  was  scarcely  two  years  old 
before  the  demand  for  more  school  rooms  was  made.  For  a 
few  years  the  old  barn  on  Twelfth  avenue  afforded  a  miser- 
able makeshift  and  temporary  relief 

Rutin  1863  the  schools  were  once  more  crowded  to  over- 
fl')win.Lr  and  the  aj^itation  for  more  school  room  was  bcf^un. 
Then  came  the  strusjjjle  between  ])roi;ress  and  jioverty.  There 
was  a  determined  o])position  on  the  part  of  the  most  if^norant 
])  irt  of  the  community,  and  time  and  anfain,  at  the  school 
district  meetintjs,  where  all  the  taxpayers  in  the  district  had 
the  rifjht  to  vote,  were  the  plans  of  the  Board  of  Education 
voted  down. 

At  that  time  the  people  in  Washin<itonville  and  the  part 
of  Wakefield  north  of  Nineteenth  avenue  jiroperly  insisted 
that  if  any  additional  school  accommodations  were  to  be 
l)rovidcd  in  the  school  district,  there  shoiild  be  a  school-house 
in  Washin^jtonville. 

Accordinjily,  thrf)ugh  the  tact  and  trood  sense  of  Presi- 
dent Zabriskie,  Secretary  Benjamin  W.  Tilton  and  Trustees 
Jarvis  C.  Howard,  Dr.  Joseph  S.  Gregory,  David  I.  Smith, 
Joseph  V.  Marsh,  David  C.  Bancker  and  Dr.  Simeon  J..  Close, 
the  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  from  Mount  Wrnon, 
and  Thomas  White  the  member  from  Washinfjtonville,  a  com- 
promise was  effected,  whereby  two  new  schools  were  built, 
one  on  Tenth  avenue,  near  Second  street,  and  the  other  at 
Washintjtonville.  This  was  finally  adopted  at  a  school  dis- 
trict meetinfr  in  1SG9,  and  with  an  exi)cndiiure  of  $12,.")()0 
the  two  schools  were  built. 

Miss  Ferry  was  transferred  from  the  Twelfth  avenue  school 
house,  which  was  abandoned,  to  the  Tenth  avenue:  and  Miss 
Bussing-  was  made  principal  of  the  Washinjjtonville  school. 

It  was  evident,  almost  as  soon  as  these  new  school-houses 
were  built,  that  another  was  necessary,  and  then  bctran  the 


aj^itation  for  a  school  house  on  the  fifth  avenue  plot,  near 
Second  street,  to  take  the  place  of  the  old  wooden  structure 
on  I'ourth  avenue,  which  was  a  vcril.'ible  fire-traj). 

For  years  and  years,  the  afiitation  of  this  (jucstion  was 
kept  uj).  l'rincii)al  Wood  was,  at  that  time,  the  editor  and 
pro])rielor  of  the  villafje  news])aper,  the  Chronicle;  and  week 
after  week,  without  ceasinji,  his  paper  laid  bare  to  the  i)eo])le 
Ihe  necessity  for  a  new  school-house. 

Mr.  Wood  resi;,'ned  the  princi])Jilship  of  the  schools  of  Dis- 
trict .\umbcr  Four  in  1S7C),  after  eleven  years  of  faithful 
service.  Durinji  his  administration,  the  public  schools  of 
Mount  X'ernon  were  raised  to  the  hi^^hest  rank;  but  his  suc- 
cess he  always  attributed  to  the  wise  counsels,  sound  advice 
and  jroixl  jud<j;nicnt  of  President  Zabriskie,  ;ind  to  the  excel- 
lent corps  of  teachers  by  whom  he  was  assisted. 

When  he  entered  on  the  |icrformance  of  his  duties,  the 
average  attendance  in  the  schools  was  387.  In  187G,  when 
he  resi;.jned,  it  was  '>S().  In  ISG.")  the  cost  of  inaintaininj; 
the  schools  was  $7,091. 19;  in  187G  it  was  $14-,()90.8G.  The 
cost  ])er  i.upil  in  1SG5  was  $18. .'{2:  in  1S7G  it  was  $24-.0r). 
At  jiresent  it  is  $39.85. 

In  1875  William  P.  Esterbrook  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Education.  lie  was  a  man  of  remarkable  per- 
sonality. Xo  one  could  overlook  him.  He  was  large  in  stat- 
ure, had  a  loud,  penetrating  voice,  an  aggressive,  determined 
will,  and  an  absolute  conviction  of  the  correct  ness  of  his  con- 
clusions. He  was  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  jniblic 
as  he  understood  them,  and  his  honesty  and  good  faith  were 
beyond  question. 

Mr.  Estci  bt' lok  took  u|)  the  agitation  of  the  new  school- 
house  for  School  Number  One.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his 
efforts.  By  sheer  persistency  and  force  of  will,  he  overcame  the 
o]i]iosition.  It  took  him  two  years  to  do  it,  but  success 
crowned  his  work. 

He  drew  the  plans  and  s])ecirications  for  the  building  and 
superintended  its  construction.  He  was  a  builder  of  great 
cxDcricnce,  and  he  put  into  this  building  the  ])enefit  of  his 
knowledge.  There  was  not  a  stone  or  brick  or  stick  of  tim- 
ber which  went  into  the  building,  until  it  had  been  inspected 
and  aiiproved  l>y  him.  The  ])eople  stood  aghast  at  theirown 
liberality.  He  had  coaxed  them  into  voting  to  raise  $.")2,;"00, 
to  build  and  fu'-nish  this  school-house.  This  sum,  with  the 
premium  on  tf.e  bonds,  amounted  to  $54,452.76.  The  build- 
ing and  furniture  cost  $52,3'"4.57,  and  with  $1,800  of  the 
surjjlus  the  Board  of  Education  bought  the  lot  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  South  I-'ifth  avenue  and  West  Second  strOet. 

As  Mr.  Esterbrook  ?harged  nothing  for  his  plans  or  his 
services,  the  Board  of  Ivducalion  unanimously  adopted  the 
following  resolutions  : 

WHEREAS,  School  District  No.  -t,  of  the  Town  of  East- 
chesicr,  is  now  enjoying  the  benefits  and  comfor's  of  the  new 
school  buil  ling,  recently  erected  for  its  use  on  Fifth  avenue, 
in  this  village,  and 

WIIERli.\S,  This  Hoard  of  l^ducation,  by  its  more  imme- 
diate connection  with  its  inception  and  progress  to  cotii- 
lile'ion,  is  in  a  |)()sition  to  a])preciatc  the  skill  and  labor  neces- 
sarv  to  ii'anning  and  accomplishing  so  great  a  work,  so  per- 
fectly .-idajned  to  the])urposts  designed:  and 

WHIvRIvAS,  To  the  unpaid  and  devoted  labor  the 
architect,  Wni.  P.  Ivsterbrook,  Esq.,  we  owe  not  merely  the 
devising  of  the  plan,  but  the  snperintendence  of  its  execution ; 
the  re  to  re 

RESOLVED,  That  the  most  heartfelt  thanks  of  this  Board 
not  only  on  their  own  behalf,  but  also  on  behalf  of  the  citi- 
zens of' the  district,  arc  hereby  given  to  .Mr.  Wni.   P.  Ester- 


HISTORY    OF    MOUNT  VRRXON 


brook,  for  his  public  spirit  and  generous  devotion  of  skill, 
time,  and  no  small  amount  of  money,  in  the  accomplishment 
of  this  noble  work. 

REiSOLVED,  That  we  congratulate  the  district  upon  the 
unprecedented  result,  so  largely  due  to  Mr.  Esterbrook  s  pru- 
dence, watchfulness  and  care,  that  the  edifice  was  turned 
over  to  the  Board,  complete  in  all  its  details,  within  the 
limits  of  the  estimates  and  appropriations. 

RESOLVED,  That  these  preambles  and  resolutions  be 
printed  in  our  Annual  Report,  and  that  a  copy  of  them, 
suitably  engrossed  and  signed  by  the  members  of  this  Board, 
be  presented  to  Mr.  Esterbrook. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Wood  from  the  principalship, 
M.  L-  Cook  was  elected  to  fill  tne  vacancy.  He  did  not  meet 
with  much  success,  and  resigned  after  holding  the  position 
only  six  months. 

The  Board  of  Education  then  had  the  good  fortune  to 
secure  the  services  of  Charles  E.Nichols,  and  he,  as  principal 
or  superintendent,  has  been  employed  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  city  since  1877. 

With  his  incoming  and  the  completion  of  the  new  school- 
house  on  South  Fifth  arenue,  the  public  school  system  of 
Mount  Vernon  entered  upon  a  new  era  of  great  prosperity'. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  consideration  thereof,  honorable 
mention  should  be  made  of  the  men  who  unselfishly  and 
gratuitously  devoted  their  time  and  ability,  as  members  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  to  the  advancement  of  the  public 
school  system. 

Many  of  these  gentlemen  have  been  referred  to  already. 
Of  those  not  yet  mentioned,  who  are  still  living  and  re- 
siding in  Mount  Vernon,  there  are  George  R.  Crawford,  Joseph 
S.  C'ark,  Charles  C.  Bigelow,  James  H.  Jenkins,  John  Irwin, 
Henry  Huss,  Albert  F.  Gescheidt,  Dr.  Edward  F.  Brush,  Wil- 
liam Allen,  William  H.  Bard,  James  L.  Warren,  A.  Noel  Blake- 
nian,  W.  M.  Halsey  and  William  Hitchcock. 

Of  those  who  are  still  living  but  who  have  moved  awav, 
there  are  the  Rev.  Oliver  Dyer,  the  Rev.  J.  Riley  Johnson, 
Wm.  A.  Armstrong,  John  Bingham,  Alljert  J.  Pearson  and 
Daniel  M.  VanCott. 

Of  those  who  are  dead  there  are,  John  Stevens,  Benjamin 
W.  Tilton,  Philip  Lucas,  Jr.,  Gilbert  W.  Barnes,  William  Le 
Roy,  Andrew  Barr,  Matthew  Morrison,  George  E.  Fuechsel, 
James  Howland,  Cyrus  D.  Jones,  George  H.  Moore,  William 
Howe,  Calvin  T.  Hazen,  Beekman  Van  Gaasbeek,  James  Rus- 
sell, Alphonse  L.  Embur\',  Thomas  M.  Taylor,  William  M. 
Dennian,  Dr.  Stuart  B.  Carlisle,  George  J.  Penfield  and  William 
A.  Hustace. 

Of  these  gentlemen,  (jeorge  R.  Crawford  was  president  of 
the  Board  of  Education  in  1882,  Thomas  M.  Taylor  in  1885, 
Crcorge  J.  Penfield  in  1889,  William  A.  Armstrong  in  1892 
and  A.  Noel  Blakeman  in  1894. 

While  every  man  on  this  roll  of  honor  is  entitled  to  the 


thanks  of  the  communitv,  especial  mention  should  be  made 
of  two,  who,  by  reason  of  long  service  and  exce])tional  devo- 
tion to  their  work  were  of  ver3-  great  usefulness  in  building 
up  the  Mount  Vernon  public  school  system.  One  of  these 
was  Philip  Lucas,  Jr.  and  the  other  was  Benjamin  W.  Tilton. 
Mr.  Lucas  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  fif 
teen  years,  and  Mr.  Tilton  for  seventeen  years.  From  18(59 
until  1886,  with  but  few  exceptions,  either  Mr.  Lucas  or  Mr. 
Tilton  was  the  secretary  of  the  Board.  Almost  all  the  time 
Mr.  Lucas  was  in  the  Board,  he  was  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  teachers  and  discipline;  and  Mr.  Tilton  was, 
throughout  his  membership  in  the  Board,  the  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  library. 

No  two  men  in  the  Board  ever  jierformed  their  duties  more 
faithfully  and  intelligently. 

The  history'  of  the  public  schools  in  District  Number  I'our 
would  not  be  complete  v^ithout  reference  to  the  long  con- 
tinued, faithful  and  efficient  service  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  William  P.  Sleight.  He  was  appointed  to  that 
position  in  1869  and  he  held  it,  except  for  one  thort  interval, 
until  1894,  a  period  of  twenty-five  years.  Through  his  exper- 
ience and  intelligence,  he  became  a  very  valuable  adviser  to 
members  of  the  Board;  and  on  almost  every  question  of  im- 
portance, his  judgment  was  sought,  and  proved  very  useful 
in  reaching  a  correct  conclusion. 

Another  of  the  good  citizens  of  Mount  \'ernon  who  was 
long  and  honorably  identified  with  its  public  school  system 
was  John  Berry.  F'or  eighteen  years,  he  was  the  treasurer 
of  School  District  Number  Four  of  the  Town  of  Eastchester; 
and  won  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  public,  the  Board 
of  Education  and  the  teachers,  not  only  by  his  honesty  and 
reliability,  but  by  his  urbanity,  his  willingness  to  oblige  and 
his  readiness  to  assist.  Time  and  again  he  advanced  the 
money  required  t<3  pay  the  obligations  of  the  school  district, 
and  no  teacher  who  was  in  need  of  money  before  her  salary 
was  due,  ever  applied  to  him  in  vain. 

In  1889  he  declined  a  re-election,  and  thereupon  the  jico- 
ple,  at  the  annual  school  meeting  adopted  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolution  : 

WHEREAS,  John  Berry  has  for  many  years  held  the  re- 
sponsible ]iosition  of  treasurer  of  this,  the  Fourth  School 
District  of  the  Town  of  Eastchester,  and  has  filled  said  office 
with  honor  to  himself  and  the  district,  and  in  a  manner 
highly  acceptable  to  all  concerned,  without  fee,  reward,  or  the 
hope  of  reward  for  his  time  and  services,  and 

WHEREAS,  He  now  voluntarily  retires  from  said  ofhce, 
so  long  and  ably  filled  by  him,  therefore  be  it 

RESOLVED,  that  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  electors  of 
said  district  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  extended  to  Mr. 
Berry  for  his  faithfulness  and  efficiency  in  the  discharge  of  all 
the  important  duties  and  resposibilities  devolving  upon  him 
as  said  treasurer  for  a  series  of  years;  and  that  it  is  with 
regret  that  they  part  with  hitn  and  his  services  as  such  officer. 


cA-,\.  iii;nkv  II.  novci: 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THK  MorNT  VKKXOX   I!.\R,  FKOM 

The  carlicsL  rccollcrlioiis  oi  the  ineiiihcrs  ot  the  Bar  in 
Mount  X'crnon  go  back  to  three  men,  Joseph  I>.  Fay,  I'clhani 
L.  McClelL-m  and  WilUani  11.  Peinbcrton.  .\Ir.  I-'ay  was  one 
of  the  t'linily  of  that  name  which  had  lived  in  the  old  home- 
stead, opp  )site  St.  Paul's,  Hastchestcr,  for  more  than  a  cen- 
tury, lie  was  not  gifted  of  speech,  he  was  not  a  jury  law_ver, 
he  was  not  a  in;in  of  affairs.  He  was  a  student.  He  loved 
to  pore  over  law  hooks  and  to  discuss  knotty  legal  ])roI)- 
lems.  He  was  for  several  years  a  justice  of  the  i)eace  in 
the  town  of  Bastchester,  and  he  had  desk  room  in  Mr.  I'eni- 
hjrton's  odice.  That  place  was  the  cradle  of  the  Mount  \"er- 
non  Har.  It  was  in  the  house  on  the  north  sitie  of  the  Xew 
York  side  ot  the  Xew  York  and  Xew  Haven  Railroad,  just 
west  of  (lould's  Hotel,  now  known  as  the  Mount  \  ernon 
Hotel.  In  that  ollice  Mr.  I'eniiierlon  practiced  law  for  nearly 
lifty  years.  It  was  not  until  his  death,  March  11,  I'JOl,  that 
it  became  vacant. 

Mr.  Fay's  most  notable  Jichievement  was  the  Digest  of 
the  Laws  of  the  State  of  Xew  York.  It  was  a  work  which 
involved  a  great  amount  ol  painstaking  and  excellent  legtd 
discrimination.  In  this  1  )igest,  which  filled  three  large  volumes, 
all  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Xew  \'ork,  from  1777  to  1S74- 
were  arranged  alphabeticalh",  according  to  the  subjects  they 
treated  of,  just  as  the  decisions  of  the  courts  are  grouped, 
in  the  digests  of  the  same. 

I'elham  L.  McClellan  was  a  lawyer  who  liked  to  try  jury 
cases.  He  was  never  so  ha])py  as  when  in  a  keen  contest  be- 
fore the  court  and  a  jury.  He  had  his  otHce  and  library  at 
his  home  on  Sixth  aveiuie,  near  I'ourth  street,  but  he  spent 
most  of  his  time  in  Mr.  I'cmberton's  otlice,  and  tried  most 
of  the  lattcr's  cases. 

Mr.  Pemherton  was  very  successful  as  an  office  lawyer. 
He  was  a  man  of  affairs.  He  searched  titles,  made  loans, 
drew  wills  and  attended  to  all  the  legal  work  outside  of  the 
actual  trial  of  causes.  He  virtually  had  a  monopoly  of  the 
law  business  in  Mount  Yernon  for  a  number  of  years.  It  was 
his  amliition  to  Ijecome  the  County  Judge  of  Westchester 
County.  Three  times  he  ran  for  the  office,  but  each  time, 
the  fortune  of  the  polls  was  against  him.  He  was,  however, 
the  District  Attorney'  of  Westchester  County  from  Jainiary 

I,  1857,  until  Januar\-  1,  1863.  He  was  succeeded  in  that 
office  by  Mr.  McClellan  until  January  1,  ISOG. 

Even  in  the  Fifties  and  before  the  war,  there  were  other 
lawyers  in  Mount  Yernon  beside  the  trio  just  named,  but  they 
had  their  offices  and  they  did  most  of  their  law  liusiness  in 
Xew  York  City.    Prominent  among  these  were  Judge  William 

II.  Yan  Cott,  who  lived  on  Pnion  avenue,  corner  of  Wash- 
ington street,  and  William  M.  Deninan,  who  lived  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Second  avenue  and  Third  street. 

Judge  Yan  Cott  is  still  living,  and  is  ])ractising  law  in 
Xew  York  City.  Mr.  Dennian  died  in  ISlOl,  much  respected 
by  ;dl  who  knew  him,  for  his  abilit}',  integrity  and  kindness 
of  heart.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  Xew  York  Free  Academy, 
now  the  College  of  the  City  of  Xew  York,   from   which  so 


THK   KARI.IKST  K IvCOM JX'TK )NS. 

many  eininetil  members  of  the  Xew  York  Har  have  i)r(jceeded. 

In  the  Sixties  there  were  two  other  able  lawyers  who 
resided  in  Mount  \'ernon,  but  practiced  at  their  profession 
almost  wholly  in  Xew  York  City.  One  of  these  was  John 
Flanders,  of  the  firm  of  Prentiss  &  Inlanders.  The  other 
was  Robert  R.  McKay  Ormsb)'.  Both  are  now  dead.  Mr. 
Inlanders  was  one  of  the  shrewd,  technical,  thoroughly  ])osted 
practitioners.  His  adversary  could  never  for  a  moment  be 
off  his  guard. 

Mr.  Ornisby  was  his  antity])e.  He  cared  little  for  details. 
He  reveled  in  the  discussi(jii  of  broad,  general  jirineiijles. 
He  had  a  profound  sense  of  the  prerogatives,  jirivileges  and 
honors  of  the  profession,  and  had  a  chivalrous  nature,  which 
scorned  an  unfair  or  even  a  small  adv.-intage.  He  was  one 
of  the  attorneys  for  Jefferson  Davis  when  he  was  indicted  for 
treason,  but  the  trial  never  came  off. 

In  1872  the  village  of  .Mount  \  ernon  was  able  to  boast 
of  another  law  office  than  that  in  which  Pembertoii,  Mc- 
Clellan and  Fay  had  their  headquarters. 

Charles  II.  Ostrander  lived  at  Tuckahoe.  He  studied  law 
in  the  ollice  of  John  J.  Clapp,  lisq.,  at  White  Plains,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Par  in  187().  He  was  elected  to  the 
oflice  of  Town  Clerk  of  the  town  of  Fastehester  in  1871. 
The  Town  Clerk's  office  was  held  in  those  davs  in  .Mount 
\ernon  and  as  he  had  to  be  here  daily,  he  o])ened  his  law- 
office  in  a  little  one-story  frame  structure  on  the  east  side 
of  Fourth  avenue,  where  the  Chronicle  building  now  stands. 
There  he  continued  to  transact  business  for  several  vears. 
In  1873  this  part  of  Mount  Yernon  was  swept  with  a  terrific 
fire.  Almost  before  the  ruins  were  cold,  John  Berry  began 
the  erection  of  the  brick  building  on  Fourth  avenue,  where 
(lenung  tS;  McArdle  now  have  their  department  store.  .Mr. 
Ostrander  moved  over  into  that  building,  taking  offices  on 
the  second  floor:  and  there  he  remained  at  work  in  his  pro- 
fession until  1901.  Then  he  moved  into  the  Lucas  building, 
where  he  is  still  faithfully  attending  to  the  ])erformance  of 
his  duties. 

In  ls7r)  Mr.  Ostrander  formed  a  co-]Kirlnershi])  with 
William  .\.  Woodworth,  which  was  dissolved  in  1882.  Mr. 
Woodworth  removed  to  White  Plains,  where  he  is  still  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law. 

John  Stevens,  the  founder  of. Mount  X'ernon,  had  two  sons, 
John  Oscar  Stevens  and  (".eorge  Stevens.  Both  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  Mr.  Pemberton,  in  the  Sixties.  The  former 
was  duly  admitted  to  the  Bar,  but  left  Miuint  \"crnon  to  go 
to  Plainfield,  Xew  Jersey.  He  jiracticed  his  jirot'ession  there 
and  in  Xew  York  City,  and  is  now  the  secretary  of  the  Postal 
Telegra])h  Com]iany.  tleorge  Stevens,  on  account  of"  ])oor 
health,  never  entered  into  active  practice. 

.\nother  of  the  clerks  who  gained  their  first  practical 
ex]3erience  of  the  law  in  Mr.  Peniberton's  office  was  (leorge 
W.  Hunt.  He  took  the  course  of  study  in  the  Xew  Yi>rk 
I'niversity  Law  School,  and  graduated  therefrom  in  1871. 
As  his  own  private  aflairs  have  taken  up  most  of  his  time, 


70 


II  1  S  T  ()  R  \"    OF    AI  ( )  U  N  T    \"  li  R  X  O  N 


he  has  acted,  iu  law  matters,  mainly  as  associate  counsel. 
For  many  years  he  has  had  his  headquarters  iu  the  office  of 
Herbert  D.  Lent,  who  was  a  fellow  clerk  with  him  in  Mr. 
Pemberton's  office. 

In  1877  Joseph  s.  Wood  graduated  from  Columbia  College 
Law  School  and  began  the  practice  of  law  in  Mount  Vernon. 

He  opened  an  office  in  the  Berry  building,  directly  oppo- 
site that  of  Mr.  Ostrander.  As  his  business  increased  rapidl_v, 
he  sought  a  partner.  Among  his  fellow  students  in  the  Colum- 
bia College  Law  School  was  one  whose  legal  abilities,  hard 
work  and  logical  mind  impressed  Mr.  Wood  deeply.  He  was 
Isaac  N.  Mills.  iMr.  Wood  invited  him  to  enter  into  a  partner- 
ship and  he  did  so.  It  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent  in 
1882.  Each  member  of  the  firm  has  since  continued  the 
practice  of  law  in  Mount  Vernon,  with  marked  success. 

In  1883  Judge  Mills  was  elected  to  the  office  of  County 
Judge  of  Westchester  County,  which  office  he  filled  with  dis- 
tinguished ability  f(jr  twelve  ^ears. 

Twice  has  he  since  sought  the  ncjniination  of  the  Republi- 
can party  for  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
in  both  instances  he  has  failed  by  a  very  narrow  margin. 

In  1900  Judge  Mills  was  elected  as  Senator  of  the  Sena- 
torial District,  and  for  two  years  he  filled  that  office. 

He  has  been  one  of  the  examiners  of  applicants  for  fid- 
mission  to  the  Bar,  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
ablest  lawyers  in  Westchester  County. 

Mr.  Wood  has  been  much  honored  by  his  professional 
brethren.  For  two  terms  he  was  one  nf  the  vice-presidents 
of  the  Westchester  County  Bar  Association,  and  for  two 
terms  thereafter  he  was  the  president  thereof. 

Shortly  after  Messrs.  Mills  and  Wood  entered  into  partner- 
ship, Messrs.  Ostrander  and  Wocjdworth  added  two  more 
partners  t(j  their  firiii.  They  were  Messrs.  Charles  H.  Roose- 
velt and  William  Bourke  Ccjchran.  Mr.  Roosevelt  had  for 
several  3'ears  practiced  law  in  New  Kochelle.  He  remained 
in  the  firm  onl^'  a  short  time,  and  then  went  back  to  his 
more  familiar  stamping-ground. 

Mr.  Cochran  was  a  new-comer.  He  was  a  nephew  of 
Edward  Martin,  who  as  president  of  the  village  of  Mount 
Vernon,  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Eastchester  and  in 
many  other  ways  had  won  the  highest  esteem  and  affection 
of  the  people. 

Mr.  Cochran  therefore  came  well  recommended.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Dublin  University,  and  was  gifted  with  a  com- 
mand of  words  and  a  fertility  of  resource,  which  attracted 
attention  from  the  start.  For  a  year  or  two  he  taught  school 
at  Tuckahoe,  but  he  took  to  the  law  as  a  duck  takes  to 
water. 

Messrs.  Cochran,  Mills  and  Wood  began  the  practice  of 
law  in  Mount  Vernon  about  the  same  time;  and  some  of  the 
cases  which  they  fought  out  were  very  interesting. 

Especially  so  were  the  proceedings  for  the  removal  of 
Robert  W.  Edmonds  from  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  the  town  of  Eastchester,  in  which  Mr.  Cochran  appeared 
for  Justice  Edmonds  and  Mr.  Wood  for  the  petitioners. 

In  a  short  time,  Mr.  Cochran  drifted  to  New  York  City  ; 
and  from  that  time  until  now,  his  reputation  as  an  orator 
and  a  lawyer  has  been  world-wide. 

Among  the  clerks  who  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Mills 
&  Wood  were  two  who  have  since  become  lawyers,  and  who 
are  now  practicing  law  in  Mount  \'ernon,  Frank  N.  Glover 
and  David  O.  Williams ;  the  former  is  also  the  Clerk  of  Arrears 
of  Taxes  and  Assessments,  and  the  latter  is  the  Postmaster 
of  the  city. 

Since  Mr.  Wo(jd  has  been  in  practice  by  himself,  several 
of  the  younger  lawyers  have  graduated  from  his  office.  Prom- 


inent among  these  are  Harry  V.  Morgan,  Kolland  B.  Archer, 
Charles  Vauder  Roest  and  Adam  Pearson. 

From  Mr.  Ostrander's  office  came  Stephen  J.  Stilwell, 
and  from  Mr.  Pemberton's  office,  Messrs.  Wilham  J.  Marshall 
and  Herbert  D.  Lent. 

Mr.  Marshall  is  the  corporation  counsel  of  the  city  of 
Mount  Vernon,  and  Mr.  Lent  is  the  president  of  the  village 
of  Tuckahoe.  For  many  years  he  was  the  town  clerk  and  then 
the  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Eastchester. 

In  1882  another  member  was  added  to  the  Bar  of  the 
village  of  Mount  Vernon,  Norman  A.  Lawlor. 

He  had  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  William  H. 
Van  Cott,  and  by  reason  of  his  energy,  confidence  and  ability 
at  once  took  a  leading  part. 

In  1883  he  was  elected  police  justice  of  the  village  of 
Mount  Vernon,  and  in  188-t  he  was  sent  to  the  Assembly  to 
represent  the  people  of  this  district.  As  his  business  grew 
rapidly,  he  took  into  partnership  David  Swits,  who  after 
a  short  time  left  Mr.  Lawlor  and  started  out  for  himself. 

Mr.  Lawlor  went  to  New  York  City  in  1894-,  and  has 
since  had  little  or  no  practice  in  Mount  \'ernon. 

Mr.  Swits  is  still  engaged  in  active  practice  in  this  city. 
From  1893  to  1898  he  was  the  corporation  counsel  of  the 
jitv  of  Mcjunt  Vernon. 

In  1891  George  C.  Appell  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  He 
was  born  in  and  had  lieen  brought  up  in  Mount  X'ernon,  and 
from  the  time  he  became  of  age  he  had  taken  an  active  part 
in  Mount  Vernon  affairs.  For  many  years  he  was  a  steno- 
grapher, and  in  that  capacity,  he  had  learned  much  law. 
This  was  of  great  assistatce  to  him  in  his  studies.  Mr.  Appell 
very  soon  took  into  partnership  Odell  D.  Tompkins,  and  this 
partnership  still  exists.  Mr.  Tompkins  was  compelled  on 
account  of  his  health,  to  go  to  Coloradt)  and  Arizona.  Thence 
he  went  to  the  Phillipines  and  now  he  is  Ijack  again  strong 
and  vigorous. 

Mr.  Appell  was  the  first  city  judge  who  was  elected  under 
the  charter  of  the  city  of  Mount  \'ernon,  in  1892.  His  op- 
ponent was  Edgar  K.  Brown.  Judge  Appell  is  now  one  of  the 
vice-presidents  of  the  Weschester  County  Bar  Association  and 
enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

One  of  the  lawyers  in  Mount  X'ernon  who  entered  the 
profession  in  middle  age  was  Jared  Sandford,  who  died  Febru- 
ary 3,  1903.  Mr.  Sandford  always  took  a  prominent  part 
in  public  affairs.  He  was  president  of  the  village  of  Mount 
X'ernon,  and  fi)r  a  few  months  was  its  first  mayor.  He  was 
the  school  commissioner  for  the  First  District  of  Westchester 
County,  and  the  deputy  commissioner  of  public  instruction 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  In  1898  he  was  the  assemblyman 
for  the  First  Assembly  District  of  Westchester  County. 

One  of  his  contemporaries,  who,  for  several  years,  was 
the  leading  spirit  in  West  Mount  Vernon  was  Joseph  Belle- 
sheini.  He  had  his  office  on  Chambers  street.  New  York  City, 
ljut  nevertheless  transacted  considerable  office  business  in 
M(3unt  Vernon.  He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  West  Mount  Vernon  and  of  the  board  of  education  of 
School  District  Number  Five  of  the  town  (jf  Eastchester.  For 
four  years  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town.  He 
was  a  very  genial,  sociable  man  and  was  very  popular.  He 
died  in  1885. 

Shortly  after  Mills  &  Wood  dissolved  partnership,  Judge 
Mills  entered  into  a  partnership  with  Walter  S.  Allerton. 
This  partnership  continued  during  1884  and  1885.  Mr.  Aller- 
ton has  practiced  law  mostly  in  New  York  City,  although 
he  has  resided  in  Mount  Vernon  or  the  town  of  Eastchester 
for  more  than  forty  years. 

In    LS95  Judge  Mills  entered  into  partnership  with  his 


.MACKICE   J.  SULLIVAX. 


HISTORY    OF    M  O  r  N  T    V  I-  K'  N  O  X 


iicjihcw,  Ailhur  M.  li)hiis()n,  and  lliat  ])arliicr.ship  still  exists. 

Jiulfic  ApjKll  was  succeeded  as  city  jiidfiC  by  |  ii(l<;e  Adam 
E.  Schatz,  who  held  the  ollice  until  ISDS,  when  the  j)resent 
incuinhent,  jiulj^c  l-'rank  A.  Hennett,  was  elected.  Jud>;e  Ben- 
nett has  his  ollice  in  Mount  \'ernon,  hut  judj^e  Schatz,  thoiij^h 
a  resident  ol  this  city,  has  his  ollice  in  New  N'ork. 

|.  Mortimer  licll  was  until  1S<S,S  a  resident  ol  City  Island. 
He  w;is  admitted  to  the  Har  in  IS.SS,  and  has  been  success- 
fully praclicinji  at  his  prolession  ever  since.  In  1S'.)1  he  o|)encd 
his  olhce  in  Mount  \  crnnn  and  h.'is  rcm.-iincd  hen-  ever  since. 
During  the  years  l.Si)'J,  I'.IUU  and  I'.iol  in-  w.-is  a  nuinlier 
ol  the  l)oard  of  aklernien  of  the  city  ol  Mount  \  ci  non. 

Another  prominent  and  ])ublic-spirited  citi/.en  who  is  a  law- 
yer, is  Charles  C.  Rifjelow.  Mr.  Itij^elow's  ollice  has  always 
been  in  the  cily  of  New  X'ork,  but  he  has  taken  an  active 
jiart  in  the  public  allairs  ol  Mount  \crnon.  lie  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Hoard  of  Trtistees  and  of  the  Hoard  of  Ivdu- 
eation.  He  was  the  president  of  the  Mount  X'ernon  Water 
Commission  and  is  one  of  the  siqicrvisors  of  Westchester 
County  from  the  city  of  Mount  \'eriion. 

Messrs.  Milo  j.  White  and  Frank  M.  Huck  bc.uan  the 
practice  of  law  in  Mount  \ernon  as  partners  in  IS'.to.  In 
the  year  l.S'.KS  this  jiartnership  was  dissolved,  but  cai-h  ol 
these  ^.^entlemen  has  continued  to  ])racticc  his  ])rotcssion  in 
Mount  \ernon.  Mr.  Huck  is  now  the  attorney  who  re])re- 
seiits  the  State  ol  New  \'ork  in  Westchester  County,  in  mat- 
ters relatin>i  to  the  transfer  tax. 

Charles  H.  Lovett  is  another  of  the  lawyers  in  Mount 
\'crnon  who  take  an  active  part  in  jiublic  aflairs.  Mr.  Lovett 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  in  11)00,  1901  and 
1U02.  He  is  now  the  aj)praiser  for  the  State  of  New  York 
in  Westchester  County  as  to  estates  out  of  which  is  to  be 
collected  the  transfer  tax. 

Two  ucntlcmen  who  formerly  practiced  law  at  White  Plains 
have,  within  a  few  years  past,  tfd^en  uj)  their  residence  in 
Mount  \ernon:  h^rederick  W.  Ch'irk  and  Eu<>;ene  Archer. 
Mr.  Clark  is  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  city  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  its  alfairs.  William  Iv.  Conklin  lormerly 
was  en<^aj;ed  in  the  ])ractice  of  law  at  Xew  Kochellc.  When 
he  came  to  Mount  \'ertion,  a  few  vcars  aj^o,  he  entered  into 
|)artnership  with  Atidison  ].  Lyon.  He  is  now  in  the  ollice 
of  Mr.  Stilwell. 

Another  member  of  the  Bar  who  has  for  man\'  years 
been  the  supervisor  of  the  town  of  I'elham  and  for  several 
years  the  ])resident  of  the  Westchester  County  Board  of  Su])cr- 
visors,  has  recently  o])ened  his  ollice  in  Mount  \  ernon  tor  the 
practice  of  law,  John  M.  Shinn. 

Stuart  W.  Cowan  is  (nie  of  the  lawyers  of  Mount  X'ernon, 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  public  aflairs.  I  ntil  recently 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Ivducation. 

There  is  a  larfje  number  of  law\-ers  who  reside  in  Mount 


\crnon  whose  ollices  are  in  New  Vork  City.  .Most  ol  them 
do  not  practice  law  in  Mount  X'ernon,  but  s(jme  of  them  d(j. 

.\nionj<  the  best  known  of  the  latter  class  is  Kof;er 
Sherman,  whose  name  denotes  his  lineaj^e,  and  who  is  recog- 
nized as  one  ol  the  ablest  lawyers  in  Westchester  County. 

Another,  worthy  of  special  mention,  is  Fr.mk  Tichenor, 
who  has  £ilways  tjdcen  a  prominent  ])art  in  ])ublic  affairs, 
has  been  one  of  the  aldermen  of  this  city  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Ivducation. 

.\lso  Ivdward  Hartley,  who  gave  the  city  the  large  ])lol 
of  ground  known  as  Hartley  I'ark,  and  who  has  always 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  ])ublic  education. 

Also  Herbert  T.  jennings,  who  hiid  out  and  developefl 
Vernon  Heights.  .Mso  Joshua  M.  I'iero,  (".eorge  W.  Perkins, 
Arthur  Lurher,  William  (L  Bussey,  Howard  Allison,  Hugh 
Keavcy,  William  B.  Magrath,  Olen  I".  McKinney,  L'Tvis  W. 
Mason,  CeorgeW.  Wallace,  Alfred  A.  Wright,  William  B.  Wiight, 
Henry  \.  A])])ell,  Jr.,  James  I).  HeCamp,  Ldwin  L.  Lord, 
and  Charles  E.  Deniard. 

Of  the  younger  members  of  the  Bar  in  Mount  \ernon 
there  is  a  host  that  bid  fair  to  prove  successful. 

Among  them  are,  William  C.  Maines,  C.  I»e\'ere  Manville, 
Thomas  A.  McKennall,  Charles  W.  Sinnott,  James  \'.  Simp- 
son, Horace  P.  Hollister,  Will  L.  (jay,  Sanniel  B.  Smith, 
Ivlmcr  P.  Smith,  Sydney  A.  Syme,  Crcorge  B.  Crawford,  I'red- 
erick  H.  Penman,  Albert  L.  (lescheidt,  Jr.,  Alex;tnder  Hirsch- 
berg,  Jidien  Iv.  Ingle,  Jr.,  John  C.  McNeilly,  George  W.  Riggs, 
Robert  I).  Paskelt,  H.  Wesley  Coons,  (iustav  R.  Hciinburger, 
and  Sydney  M.  Wood. 

Mr.  Maines  was  in  I'.iOl  the  nicnd)er  of  Assenil)ly  from  this 
district.  Mr.  Manville  is  in  the  ollice  of  Joseph  S.  Wood. 
Mr.  McLenncU  is  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the  city.  Mr.  Simp- 
son is  the  comjitroUer.  Mr.  Sinnott  has  his  ollice  in  New 
York  City,  but  has  considerable  ]jractice  in  Mount  X'ernon. 
Mr.  Hollister  wtis  formerly  in  the  ofhee  of  Judge  Mills  jind 
std)se<|uently  in  that  of  Mr.  Morgan.  .Mr.  C.jiy  is  associated 
with  .Mr.  White.  Samuel  B.  Smith  has  offices  with  .Mr.  Shinn, 
Ivlmcr  P.  Smith  divides  his  time  between  Xew  Vork  and  .Mount 
X'crnon.  Mr.  Synic  has  recently  been  elected  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  has  just  started  out  for  himself,  after  having  been 
the  nian.'iging  clerk  of  Mills  and  Johnson  for  several  years, 
(icorge  B.  Crawford  is  in  i)artnershi])  with  -Mr.  Ostrander. 
Mr.  Denman  is  the  son  of  William  M.  Dennian  and  has  suc- 
ceeded to  his  father's  practice.  Mr.  ("icscheidt  is  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  has  ollices  with  his  father,  .\lbert  F.  C.escheidt, 
Sr.,  Mr.  Paskett  was,  until  recently,  a  justice  of  tf.e  ^eace, 
.Mr.  Coons  is  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Lent.  Mr.  Hamburger  was 
until  recently,  the  managing  clerk  in  the  ollice  of  corjioration 
counsel  Marshall,  but  has  started  in  ])ractice  for  himself,  and 
Sydney  M.  Wood,  who  is  the  son  of  Josejih  S.  Wood,  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  father. 


History  of  Mount  Vernon 


CHAPTER  VII. 

niOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  ETC.— THE   PERSONAL  HISTORY  OF  .MANY  CITIZENS  WHO   HAYE    BEEN  PROMI- 
NENT  IN   THE  LIFE   OF   MOt  NT  YERNON. 


THE  HON.  EDWIN  W.  FLSKE,  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Motint 
\'ernon,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  one  of  those  fortu- 
nate individuals  who  have  been  endowed  by  nature  with  all 
the  requirements  for  success  in  this  life;  ability,  character, 
energy  and  appearance,  all  are  his,  and  these  gifts  have  been 
well  used.  Mayor  Fiske  was  Ijorn  at  Shaniokin,  Penn.,  on 
July  17,  1861.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Amanda  Stod- 
dard Fiske,  the  father  being  of  Puritan  ancestry,  and  a  na- 
tive of  Massachusetts.  Mayor  Fiske  received  his  education  in 
Harrrisburg,  after  which  he  served  an  apprenticeship  with 
the  Bessemer  Steel  Manufacturing  Company,  and  afterward 
worked  in  the  steel  business  with  the  Pennsylvania  Steel  Com- 
pany. Removing  to  New  York  City  he  engaged  in  the  steam 
and  hot  water  heating  trade,  and  continued  in  the  same 
business  in  Mount  \ernon,  to  which  place  he  removed  in 
1885.  In  1892  he  disposed  of  his  heating  interests,  and  de- 
voted his  attention  to  real  estate,  of  which  he  is  a  large 
holder,  and  also  to  the  oil  business,  in  which  his  sagacity 
showed  him  vast  possibilities.  That  he  had  unusual  success 
in  all  the  above  mentioned  undertakings  admits  of  no  con- 
tradiction, and  personal  experience  has  made  Maj-or  Fiske 
an  ardent  advocate  of  the  rights  of  labor.  He  married  Miss 
Annie  E.  Smith,  daughter  of  the  late  Henrj-  C.  Smith,  first 
president  of  the  Pecjple's  Bank,  and  one  of  Mount  Vernon's 
most  progressive  citizens.  Almost  from  his  arrival  in  Mount 
\'ernon,  Mayor  Fiske  has  been  interestetl  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Fire  Department.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  Steamer 
C<}.  No.  3,  and  was  foreman  of  that  company  for  three 
years,  then  becoming  chief  engineer  (^f  the  Mount  Vernon 
Fire  Department,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  three  times, 
resigning  to  become  Mayor  of  the  city.  I'nder  his  leadership 
the  Department  was  expanded  and  developed,  so  that  at 
present  there  are  nine  companies,  with  apparatus  such  as  is 
usually  found  in  the  largest  cities.  The  discipline  is  equal 
to  that  of  any  paid  department.  Mayor  Fiske  has  also 
served  with  distincticjn  as  a  member  of  the  military,  becoming 
a  member  of  the  former  Eleventh  Separate  Company,  he  speed- 
ily rose  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  and  on  the  organ- 
ization of  the  First  Regiment,  became  battallion  quarter- 
master of  the  First  Battallion.  The  Mayor  is  a  member  of 
the  Old  (iuard  of  New  York  City.  Socially,  Mayor  Fiske  is 
very  po]5ular,  and  has  retained  the  friendship  of  the  people 
through  all  his  career.  Once  a  friend,  always  a  friend,  is  his 
maxim,  and  probably  this  has  constituted  as  much  to  his 
success  in  life  as  anything  else.  As  he  takes  an  interest  in 
everything  connected  with  the  welfare  of  his  city,  he  is  neces- 
sarily a  member  of  a  great  many  organizations,  religious,  so- 
cial, political  and  fraternal ;  in  all  of  these  he  takes  an  active 
interest.  Politically  Mayor  Fiske  is  a  democrat  and  from 
the  very  first  has  taken  a  strong  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
city  of  Mount  Vernon.  Elected  a  trustee  in  1889,  his  saga- 
city taught  him  that  the  greatest  obstacle  to  Mount  X'ernon's 


progress,  was  the  want  of  good  roads,  and  through  his  pub- 
lic career  he  has  always  and  successfully  worked  to  obtain 
these.  Mount  \'ernon's  position  to-day  as  a  city  of  model 
roads,  and  its  continued  growth,  prove  the  correctness  of  his 
judgment.  In  1893  he  was  elected  Alderman  and  in  1894  the 
Democratic  party,  recognizing  in  him  the  talents  which  indicate 
the  leader,  under  whose  guidance  the  city's  progress  and  suc- 
cess would  be  assured,  unanimously  nominated  him  for  the 
office  of  Mavor.  The  election  was  very  close,  and  after  ex- 
tended litigation  was  decided  by  a  judge  of  the  western  part 
of  the  State  in  favor  of  his  opponent  by  one  vote.  Again 
in  1896  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Democrats,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majorit3'  ''^  505.  The  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  city  during  this  term  was  so  pronounced  that  he  was 
re-elected  in  1898  by  a  majority  of  671,  also  in  1900  by  a 
still  greater  majority.  His  political  opponents  in  1901  had 
an  act  passed  b\^  the  Legislature,  changing  the  city  election 
from  May  to  November,  hoping  that  the  State  ticket  would 
influence  voters  int(j  voting  for  the  local  candidates  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  but  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  city  went 
Republican  on  State  issues,  and  also  the  fact  that  there  was 
a  Republican  tidal  wave  in  New  York  Citv,  the  Ma3-or  was 
again  re-elected.  In  1902  Mayor  Fiske  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  Democratic  Committee  i  f  Westchester  County,  which 
position  he  now  holds.  Mayor  Fiske's  wonderful  success  in 
public  life  has  no  secrets.  The  interests  of  all  the  people  have 
ever  lieen  his;  he  makes  no  distinctions;  he  is  ever  at  the 
service  of  all  his  constituents,  and  the  interests  of  the  whole 
city  have  been  paramount. 

GEORGE  R.  CRAWFORD  was  born  on  June  21,  1841,  in 
White  Plains,  Westchester  County,  N.  V.,  his  parents  having 
been  Elisha  and  Judith  (Tompkins)  Crawford.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  at  the  White  Plains  Military  Academ3-, 
he  became  engaged  at  an  early  age  in  the  fire  insurance  busi- 
ness, which  pursuit  he  has  followed  through  life.  He  became 
connected  with  the  Westchester  Fire  Insurance  Companj', 
which  was  established  in  1837,  and  after  filling  many  offices 
in  that  company,  he  was  in  1879  elected  to  its  presidency, 
which  position  he  now  holds;  and  the  prominence  and  success 
which  this  corjjoration  enjo3's  is  due,  in  a  large  measure,  to 
his  ability.  Mr.  Crawford  became  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon 
some  thirty-four  years  ago,  and  since  that  date  he  has  been 
a  great  factor  in  the  making  of  the  history  of  the  place.  He 
is  a  prominent  Mason,  having  filled  many  prominent  offices 
in  that  order.  He  is  a  memljer  of  Hiawatha  I^odge,  No.  434,  F. 
&  A.M.:  Mount  \ernon  Chapter  No.  328,  K.  A.  M. ;  Bethlehem 
Conimandery  No.  53,  K.  T. ;  Wauregan  Encampment  of  O. 
D.  O.,  and  is  a  member  of  all  the  branches  of  Scottish  Rites 
and  of  the  Mecca  Temple.  Mr.  Crawford  was  elected  a  village 
trustee  of  Mount  Vernon,  in  1870,  and  again  in  1873.  He 
was  elected  village  president  in  1876,  and  served  two  years. 


WILLIAM   J.  .\L\KSnALL 


1 1  I  S  T  ( »  K       ( )  1-    MOUNT    \'  Iv  R  X  < )  N 


77 


Ik-  skives  many  iiiU'i (.-sliii^  iriiiiniseciKvs  in  fDuiicclion  with 
liis  st'i  vicc  in  llic  I'iri.'  I 'I'parl nicnl,  in  llic  orjiaiiization  of 
wliifli  he  was  viTv  cliit'ient.  In  ])cililii's  he  is  an  In(k'])cn(k'nl. 
He  was  married  on  May  2."),  1S()4-,  to  Miss  Liicrelia  (">rei;;, 
(l.'Uijjhter  of  James  I,,  and  Kehecea  (">rei^',  of  Brooklyn.  Mr. 
Crawford  is  a  niemlierol'a  nnniher  ol' prominenl  soeial  or;.;an- 
izalions,  ammiL;  whieh  are  the  Siwanoy  (iolf  Chil)  and  the 
Sons  of  the  Revohilinn,  his  ;^re.-it-;j;randfather  havin;^  l)een 
an  ollieer  in  the  .Vnierie.an  .irmy,  and  Uilled  in  a  skirmish  with 
the  British  troops,  at  Stephen  Ward's  tavern,  on  the  White 
Plains  road,  Tuekahoe,  .N.  \.,  on  the  site  of  the  residenee  ol 
the  laic  Jiid<j;e  Silas  I),  (".ifford. 

('.IvOKf.l-  IIAVl-S  was  horn  in  the  t'ily  of  (".lotieester,  \'.\\<i- 
land,  in  ISIO.  lie  was  edneatid  as  an  arehiteet,  eivil  and 
mechanical  en<4incer.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  Iuiro])c, 
Asia,  .\friea  and  America.  Acionnts  of  his  travels  in  many 
countries  have  been  ])td)lished  and  read  with  niiuh  interest, 
his  description  of  persons  and  ihin^^s  hein;;;  verv  entertaining^. 
He  is  well  known  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  this  continent 
as  well  as  in  Ivnrope.  He  has  established  as  man\-  as  twenty- 
two  mamifactitries  in  various  cities  of  this  coTilinent  and  in 
Buro])e  and  has  created  many  new  indnstiies  in  which  many 
thousands  are  cnijjloyed.  He  is  a  sui-ccssful  business  man, 
a  prolific  inventor  and  author  of  many  treatises  u])oii 
architectural  and  engineering.;  topics.  It  would  be  almost 
im|)ossible  to  erect  a  modern  dwelling;  without  the  emjiloy- 
mcnt  of  some  of  his  invi-ntions,  and  there  is  scarcelv 
a  city  in  the  civilized  world,  however  remote,  in  which 
some  ol  his  inventions  are  not  practiced.  To  his  ellorls 
the  use  of  metal  to  a  very  considerable  extent  has  su])erse(k'd 
material  whieh  had  hitherto  been  inade(piate  to  the  successful 
accom])lishmeiit  and  advani  au'i-ons  const  nn-t  ion,  es|)eeiall\- 
in  modern  buildin^^s.  In  awarding  the  medal  to  Mr.  Il.aves 
at  the  Centennial  lv\hiI)ilion  in  ISTf),  wiiere  he  h;id  erected  a 
bnildin.Lj  in  whieh  he  i  neorjiora  ted  his  inventions,  the  jud-^es' 
report  was:  "  l"or  the  in.t;enniiy  displayed  in  the  construction 
of  the  various  articles,  based  on  sound  priiieii)les,  and  especially 
for  the  perfection  arrived  at  in  the  c^justrtietion  of  skyli-ihts." 
Mr.  Hayes  has  at  various  times  been  awarded  over  one  hun- 
dred medals:  his  contributions  to  lite-savint;  devices  and  (ire- 
jjroof  construction  are  well  and  widely  known.  He  has  indeed 
led  a  most  active,  useful  and  evcilfid  life:  such  men  of  |)ro- 
^ress  inny  be  justly  regarded  as  std)stanlial  benefactors.  Ib- 
is a  member  of' The  Cicneral  Societ  v  of  .Mechanics  and  Trades- 
men of  the  City  of  .New  \'ork,  The  .American  Institute,  The 
.Association  of  .-American  Inventors,  (of  which  he  was  for  sev- 
eral years  its  vice-jjresident) ,  The  Buildiiif^  Bmiiloyers'  Asso- 
ciation (of  whieh  he  w.is  for  some  years  its  iiresident) ,  The 
American  Soeietv  of  .Mechanical  I-"n;j;ineers,  The  International 
Association  of  l-"ire  l-;ni;ineers,  l-.mployers'  .Association  of  Roof- 
ers and  Sheet  Metal  Workers  of  dreater  .New  York  (of  which 
he  is  ,111  ex-president,)  and  of  all  the  various  Masonic  bodies, 
includin<j;  honorary  mcmhcrshii)  in  Anjilo-American  I.od<ie,  in 
London,  I-yim:land.  He  was  fornierlv  a  meiuber  of  the  Reiiub- 
lie;in  Club  of  Xew  N'ork,  the  Abinudon  ;uid  several  other 
clubs.  He  is  ;it  jiresent  a  member  of  I  he  Republii-;in  Club  ot' 
Mount  X'ernon.  Mr.  Hayes  and  family  resided  in  the  City 
of  Xew  York  from  ISC),")  to  1S'.)S,  when  they  moved  to  Mount 
\  crnoii,  residinji  on  Cl'ireniont  avenue,  since  which  time  Mr. 
Hayes  has  adoi)ted  a  life  of  comiiarative  leisure:  he  is,  how- 
ever, the  president  and  principal  stockholder  in  the  C.eortre 
Haves  Company,  of  New  York,  and  he  contiiuies  to  be  in- 
terested in  various  other  enterprises  mainlv  of  his  own  creation. 
Mr.  Hayes  is  an  amateur  imisici;in,  and  claims  that  the  deve- 
lopment of  liis  inventjons  and  the  furtherance  of  his  business 
enterpri.ses  have  been  accelerated,  and  the  cares  and  respon- 


sibilities incidental  to  his  suciesslul  and  busy  ca  leer  ha  ve  been 
alleviated,  by  the  ha|)py  diversions  afforded  him  by  his  love, 
knowledge  and  practice  of  music,  to<,'elher  with  the  interest 
he  h;is  taken  and  the  services  rendered  by  him  in  -Masonic 
.•\ssociatiou,  in  which  he  has  held  many  h'i}ih  oflices  and  is 
re^^arded  as  a  most  distinj,mishe(l  member.  He  is  sjioken  of 
in  the  most  <,dowinj,'  terms  in  the  book  entitled  "The  Standard 
History  of' l-"reemasonrv  in  the  State  of  New  York."  In  S];eak- 
inj;  of  him  it  says  in  part:  "In  reco;;nilion  of  his  services, 
the  C.rand  l,od;,'e  by  special  legislation  in  l.^'.Mi  made  him  a 
life  meinber  of  its  body,  and  by  his  election  to  the  office  of 
•  irand  Treasurer  at  the  annual  meetinji  in  1S1)7,  became  by 
virtue  of  that  ofhce  a  life  member  of  the  (irand  I-odf^e,  so 
that  he  enjoys  the  uni(pie  distinction  of  havin;;  his  meinber- 
shi|)  in  the  (irand  body  fortified  by  two  (jualifications."  The 
first  act  here  refi-rred  to,  is  an  honor  never  before  or  since 
conf(.-rred  n])on  any  jierson  and  it  means  that  he  holds  in 
a  dual  capacity,  a  jiosition,  which  out  of  nearly  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  masons  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
twenty  persons  only  at  the  jjresent  time  hold  th;it  distinguish- 
ed honor.  A<;ain  we  find  it  slated  by  the  same  authoiily  : 
"On  declining,'  to  serve  a  second  term  as  (irand  Treasurer, 
after  bein,!.:  re-elected  to  that  othee  by  acclamatioti  in  IS'.tS, 
the  (irand  Lod;j:c  adojited  a  resolution  recojiiiiziiif;  the  eminent 
value  of  Brother  Hayes'  lon.!„'  continued  services  to  the  Masonic 
Institution  in  .Xew  \'ork."  .Mr.  Hayes  is  in  jxissession  of 
many  very  substantial  tokens  of  regard,  showin;^  still  further 
the  hij^h  esteem  in  which  he  is  held.  He  is  a  fientleman  of 
refinement  and  cidtiire,  ])ossessin;;  a  Ijirf^e  and  varied  fund 
of  knowlcdiic  and  is  an  extremely  l)ri<rhl  and  intereslin<;  eon- 
vers;itionalist. 

MlLToX  RATllBI  X,  late  resident  of  Chester  Hill,  .Mount 
\  eriioii,  X.  \  .,  was  liorn  on  .•\u;;:tist  3,  1 S+-4-,  at  X'lrona  .A'ills, 
then  called  Rathlninville,  near  Rome,  -X.  and  was  the  son 
ofSoloinon  and  Hannah  Kathbun.  liis  ancestors  were  Hick- 
site  (Quakers,  well  known,  inthiential,  and  were  noted  amonj; 
other  attributes  f<)r  veracity  and  straiiihl-foruardness.  In 
isr>7the  familv  removed  to  S])rin,i;field,  .Mass.,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  edui-ation.  In  Isiio  he  came  to  .Xew  York  City  and 
entered  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Hai.uht,  in  the  hay  and  jjrain 
business,  conlinuint;  until  the  day  of' his  transition  (with  the 
exception  of  two  ve;irs)  in  the  same  business,  and  in  the  same 
building;.  In  1S72,  without  cai)it;tl,  or  any  family  financial 
backinji,  his  father  having  lost  his  f<)rtune  in  the  ])anic  of 
1S.17,  he  assumed  the  ownershi])  of  the  business  iheo  con- 
ducted by  l-;ibert  H;dlock.  By  dilijjence,  |)er.severa nee,  honest 
dealinii,  su|)erior  jud.Ltnient,  and  slu])endous  courage  he 
built  nji  the  business  to  L;reat  ])roi>ort ions,  and  in  IS'.lO  a 
stock  compnny  was  fornie<l  with  Mr.  Rathbun  as  the  President 
and  holdiiii,'  the  conlrollini;  interest.  This  pros]'erous  con- 
cern is  known  as  the  .Milton  Rathbun  Coin])any  and  is  located 
at  -4-5.'{  I-ourih  avenue.  New  \'ork  City.  He  was  also  inter- 
ested in  mines  in  British  Columbia,  and  ojierated  them  to 
some  extent.  .-Mthouudi  very  ])opular  wiHi  his  business  asso- 
ciates .-iiid  m  inv  others  he  was  essentially  a  home  man  and 
devoted  to  his  family.  In  lS7.'i  he  w:is  married  to  r.-irriet 
Lee  P.iles,  of  Bellport,  L.  L:  two  s<ins  survive  him:  Pr.ank 
Halloek,  a  Ljraduate  in    the   cl.iss  of'  Harvard  I'niver- 

sitv,  now  \'ice- President  of  the  Milton  R.iihbtin  Com]iany, 
and  Charles  Stephen,  an  under-iiraduaie  of  the  same  college. 
The  family  lived  in  .Xew  York  City  until  1SS-1-,  when  thev 
loe.-itcd  in  th.'  plcfisant  home  in  this  eily,  which  his  wit'e  and 
sons  still  occupy.  In  early  youth  he  received  indubitable 
proof  of  spirit  return  and  communion,  and  becime  a  firm 
spiritualist,  never  swervinij^  from  that  siandpoint,  althoujjh 
he  took  an  interest  in  all  schools  of'  progressive  thought  and 


HISTORY    O  F    M  O  U  N  T 


V  E  R  X  ()  N 


shared  with  each  in  all  that  he  ton  ml  to  be  truth.  He  showed 
his  reverence  for  Ciod  hy  his  deeds  ot  love  to  man;  he  found 
good  in  all  religions,  and  was  tolerant  toward  every  dissent- 
ing faith.  His  religious  ideals  covered  all  the  problems  of 
life  and  dcstinv  and  he  fraternized  in  any  effort  for  the  good 
of  mankind.  Becoming  interested  through  the  writings  of 
Dr.  Edward  Hooker  Dewey  on  diet  and  believing  it  to  be 
in  the  interest  of  good  health,  he  made  two  extended  fasts, 
the  first  in  1899,  of  28  da\'S,  duration,  and  the  second  in  the 
early  part  of  1900,  lasting  for  35  d;iys,  during  which  he 
attended  to  business  as  usual  and  experienced  little  or  no 
inconvenience  therefrom,  with  results  beneficial  to  both  body 
and  mind.  Mr.  Rathbun  was  very  favorably  known  in  com- 
mercial life,  being  a  member  of  the  Produce  and  Haymarket 
lixchanges,  of  New  York  City.  He  was  also  on  the  (Tovern- 
ing  Board  of  the  Chester  Hill  Club  of  Mount  X'ernon,  and  a 
member  of  the  Mount  \'ernon  Hospital  Association.  He  was 
a  man  of  quiet,  unobtrusive,  retiring  manners,  a])t  at  busi- 
ness and  endowed  with  a  cultivated  insight  of  men  and 
methods,  which  made  him  a  wise  administrator  of  his  affairs 
and  a  successful  employer  of  labor.  He  was  a  close  student 
and  a  well-read  man,  not  only  in  commercial  matters,  but 
also  in  current  and  standard  literature  and  ]iossessed  one  of 
the  finest  libraries  in  Westchester  County.  Creiiial  and  enter- 
taining to  his  friends,  kind  and  loving  to  his  family,  sym- 
pathetic and  charitable  to  the  world  at  large,  he  was  held 
in  the  greatest  respect  and  esteem  by  all.  Mr.  Kathbun  de- 
parted this  life  for  the  life  beyond  death  on  September  7, 
1902,  at  Riverhead,  L.  I.,  and  his  remains  are  interred  at 
\'erona  Mills,  N.  Y.,  the  place  of  his  birth.  The  obsequies 
attending  his  funeral  were  held  in  VYillard  Hall,  and  were  very 
imposing;  besides  the  relatives  a  large  concourse  of  people 
were  present,  including  many  business  and  social  friends, 
among  them  the  entire  body  of  officers  and  employees  of  the 
Milton  Rathbun  Company,  of  New  York,  many  members  of 
the  Produce  and  Haymarket  Exchanges  and  a  large  delegation 
of  the  Westchester  Woman's  Club  of  Mount  Yernon.  The 
floral  tributes  were  numerous  and  more  elegant  than  ever 
before  seen  in  this  city.  Mrs.  Rathbun,  who  survives  the 
honored  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  refined  and  cultured  woman, 
most  pleasing  in  manner,  and  is  very  prominent  and  popu- 
lar in  social  circles.  She  is  President  of  the  Westchester 
W'oman's  Club  of  Mount  Vernon,  composed  of  some  240 
members.  The  object  of  this  society  is  "to  form  a  recog- 
nized center  for  social  and  mental  culture,  to  further  the  edu- 
cation of  women  for  the  responsibilities  of  life,  to  encourage 
all  movements  for  the  betterment  of  society  and  to  foster 
a  generous  public  spirit  in  the  community."  Mrs.  Rathbun 
is  als<i  the  President  of  the  Westchester  County  Political 
Equality  (Woman's  Suffrage)  Club  and  Treasurer  of  the  New 
York  State  Spiritualist  Association.  She  is  also  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Hospital,  being  Chairman  of 
the  House  Committee  until  the  hospital  was  successfully  in 
operation.  She  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Martha  Wilson 
Home  for  Old  Ladies,  and  served  many  years  upon  its  Board 
of  Managers.  She  is  also  actively  engaged  as  a  director  of 
the  Peo])le's  Institute  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  is  President  of  a 
select  Social  Club.  That  Mr.  l\athl)un  and  his  family  were 
held  in  high  esteem  and  that  his  memory  is  honored  is  evi- 
flcnced  by  the  fact  that  eight  sets  of  resolutions,  some  of 
them  handsomely  engrossed,  were  forwarded  tf)  the  family 
by  leading  organizations  of  Mount  \'ernon,  and  by  the  Mil- 
ton Rathbun  C(jmpany  and  the  Eirst  Society  of  Spiritual- 
ists of  New  York  City. 

MINOT  C.  KELLOGG  was  born  at  New  Canaan, "Conn., 
December  17,  1834-.    He  was  the  son  of  Matthew  and  Electa 


(Croibot)  Kellogg;  his  ancestry  dates  back  to  Daniel  Kellogg, 
who  was  born  in  1638,  and  who  was  an  early  settler  ofNor- 
walk,  Conn.  Mr.  Kellogg  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  is  president  of  the  Patterson  Bros.  Co.,  of  New  York  City, 
hardware  merchants,  president  of  the  Bank  of  Mount  Vernon, 
president  of  the  Co-operative  Building  Bank,  New  York  City, 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Eastchester  Savings  Bank  and  on 
the  board  of  managers  of  Mount  \'ernon  Hospital.  He  is  in 
politics  a  Republican,  is  j)resi(ient  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  First  Methodist  Church,  and  a  member  of  the  Hard- 
ware Club,  New  York.  On  September  24,  18(53,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Emily  E.,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  and  Abigail  Ann 
Disbrow,  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  who  died  in  Februar}-,  1889, 
and  on  January  7,  1891,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  L. 
Tallmadge,  daughter  of  the  late  William  H.  Tallniadge,  of 
New  Canaan,  Conn.  Mr.  Kellog  is  a  gentleman  of  sterling 
worth  and  integrity,  interested  in  everything  that  is  for  the 
good  of  the  community  and  for  the  interests  of  mankind,  he 
is  refined  and  urbane  in  manner,  a  true  friend  in  all  the  re- 
lations of  life  and  discharges  his  various  duties  with  loyalty 
and  fidelity.  He  holds  an  enviable  position  in  the  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizens,  to  which  he  is  eminently  entitled,  for  his 
pure  and  honorable  life  is  above  reproach,  and  he  is  distinctly 
one  of  the  ])roniinent  and  leading  residents  of  Mount  X'ernon. 

CLARENCE  STEWART  McCLELLAN,  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man,  former  postmaster  and  city  treasurer  of  Mount 
\'ernon,  was  born  in  that  community  on  the  6th  of  May, 
1860,  being  a  son  of  Pelham  L.  and  Sarah  A.  (Ferdon)  Mc- 
Clellan.  He  is  descended  from  the  original  Scotch  ancestors, 
although  the  family  has  been  a  resident  in  this  country-  for 
several  generations.  His  great-grandfather,  Hugh  McClellan, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  grandfather, 
William  W.  McClellan,  a  citizen  of  New  Rochelle,  was  an  attor- 
ney and  served  as  Master  of  Chancery.  Mr.  McClellan's  father 
was  a  lawyer  and  held  the  offices  of  Supervisor  and  District 
Attorney  of  Westchester  County.  He  died  in  October,  1892. 
Clarence  S.  McClellan  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Mount  Vernon.  In  1S78,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  embarked 
in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  business,  in  which  he  still 
continues.  In  1891  he  associated  with  him  Thomas  R.  Hodge, 
former  Register  of  the  County  of  Westchester,  and  the  firm 
was  continued  under  the  name  of  McClellan  &  Hodge  until 
January,  1903,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent, 
Mr.  Hodge  retiring.  Mr.  McClellan,  in  addition  to  his  real 
estate  business,  has  been  closely  identified  in  the  organization 
and  management  of  several  large  corporate  interests  in  West- 
chester County.  In  the  year  1889  he  organized  the  People's 
Bank  of  Mount  Vernon,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  and  he 
was  elected  its  vice-president,  which  position  he  retained  until 
he  succeeded  to  the  presidency  in  January,  1898,  which  office 
he  still  retains.  On  April  1,  1900,  the  People's  Bank  was 
converted  from  a  State  to  a  National  l)ank,  .-issumiiig  the  title 
of  the  "  First  National  Bank  of  Mount  \'ernon,  X.  Y.,"  ■•iiid 
its  capital  increased  to  $1()0, ()()()  and  surjihis  $50,000.  The 
First  National  Bank  of  MouiU  W-nion  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  banks  in  tlic  county.  In  the  sjiring  of  1 899,  Mr. 
McClellan  co-operated  in  the  organization  of  the  City  Bank 
of  New  Rochelle,  which  was  incorporated  under  the  State 
laws  and  commenced  Imsimss  on  July  10,  1899,  with  a  cajii- 
tal  of  $50,000  and  surplns  , ,f  $5,( lOO.  In  the  year  1902,  the 
City  Bank  of  New  Rochelle  was  re  orLjanized  under  the  Nation- 
al system,  with  a  cai)ital  of  $100,000  and  surplus  of  $10,000. 
Mr.  McClellan  is  one  of  its  directors.  He  is  also  one  of  the 
directors~of  the  Gulf  and  Ship  Island  Railroad.  He  is  also 
executor  and  a  'ministrator  of  several  large  estates,  and  has 
been  a]ipointed  on  a  inimber  of  commissions  by  the  Supreme 


DAXIKL    C  lllCk 


HISTORY    ( )  I-    M  (•)  I  ■  X  I"    \'  Iv  K  N  ( )  N 


81 


Court  jiul^es  of  his  (listrici.  In  jjoliiics  Mr.  McClcllaii  lias 
lieen  identified  since  boyhood  with  the  neiiioeratic  jiarty.  At 
the  age  of  twcnt^'-nnc  he  was  elected  School  Trustee  of  Dis- 
trict No.  +,  of  the  old  town  of  Ivastchestcr.  Later  he  served 
as  villa<;e  trustee,  representing;  the  third  ward.  At  the  first 
election  held  for  choice  of  officers  for  the  new  city  of  Mount 
\'ernon,  (May, 1892),  he  was  chosen  city  treasurer,  con- 
liiiuing  in  that  office  until  junc,  1S',)1.  In  A])ril  of  the  latter 
year  he  was  apjiointed  by  I 'resident  Cleveland,  ])()Stniaster 
of  Mount  X'ernon,  having  received  the  unanimous  indorsement 
of  his  ])arty  organization.  Since  his  retirement  from  the 
postmastership  in  August,  IS'.IS,  he  has  devoted  his  time 
exclusively  to  his  husincss  interests. 

MI-:K\VIN  E.  GENI  NC,  was  horn  in  Coxsackie,  N.  Y., 
SeiHeniher  IS,  1858.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  R.  M.  (k-nung, 
;i  jirominent  Methodist  Episcopal  clergyman  and  meniher  of 
the  New  Vork  Ivast  Conference  for  thirty-five  years.  lie  was 
educated  at  the  ])ul)Iic  schools  and  afterward  at  America 
Seminary;  he  had  exjiected  to  take  a  collegiate  course,  hut 
was  prevented  by  the  illness  and  subsecjueiit  death  of  his 
father.  Shortly  after  leaving  school,  he  went  with  Samuel 
Scott,  at  White  Plains,  a  dr^' goods  merchant,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  several  years  with  him,  during  which  time  he 
was  advanced  from  an  errand  boj-'s  position  to  that  of  mana- 
ger. After  this  he  went  to  Portchester,  N.  V.  and  started 
in  business  with  Mr.  Scott,  where  he  remained  for  fifteen  years, 
until  the  death  ot'  Mr.  Scott,  when  he  severed  his  connection 
with  the  lirm.  Mr.  (".enung  had  formed  a  friendshiji  with  a 
fellow  clerk,  John  II.  .\Ic.\rdle,  which  friendship  had  continued 
to  exist,  and  when  the  opportunity'  offered  they  formed  a 
co-partnership  in  1897  under  the  firm  name  of  fk-nung  8z 
.McArdle.  Representing  the  newer  and  more  progressive  ele- 
ment, they  took  the  old  store  formerly  occujiied  by  Mr.  John 
Berry,  one  of  the  most  jiromincnt  and  best-known  merchants 
of  Mount  X'ernon.  This  w;is  a  small  store  25  xlOO  feet;  the 
new  firm  at  once  made  radical  changes  to  meet  the  demands 
of  the  time.  They  enlarged  the  store,  bought  pro])erty  and 
have  made  only  recenth' purchases  of  propertv  on  Fifth  avenue. 
They  now  have  the  choicest  property  in  the  city,  running  from 
Fourth  to  Fifth  avenue,  wnth  a  frontage  of  54  feet  and  ex- 
tending back  210  feet,  making  it  a  very  commodious  and 
complete  mercantile  establishment,  with  a  large  and  varied 
stock  of  goods.  They  have  a  bninch  store  at  Mainaroneck, 
which  is  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  .McArdle,  while  the  store 
in  .Mount  \'ernon  is  directlv  managed  by  Mr.  Cicnung.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  conservative  Republican  in  politics, 
never  sought  nor  accepted  oflice,  believing  it  is  better  to  do 
one  thing  well  th-ui  m-mv  indifferently.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  belongs  to  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  lie  was  married  September  25,  1889,  to  Miss 
Louise  Reynolds,  ot  lireeiiwich.  Conn.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Helen.  .Mr.  Genung  devotes  himself  with  great  assiduity 
to  the  details  of  his  business,  which  is  conducted  with  ad- 
mirable system.  He  is  a  very  agreeable,  unobtrusive  gentle- 
man and  has  the  hajipy  faculty  of  winning  friends  and  retain- 
ing them.  He  is  kind,  unaffected  and  approachable,  and  every 
one  who  has  business  with  him  receives  his  courteous  atten- 
tion. He  has  great  faith  in  the  future  of  Mount  Vernon  and 
is  always  ready  to  give  his  support  to  any  measure  that 
will  inure  to  its  development  and  benefit. 

I\  A.  STRATTO.N',  vice-president  of  the  Westchester  Light- 
ing Company.  .Mr.  Stratton  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
Vork,  but  has  lived  much  in  the  South,  where  he  still  has 
large  jjroperty  interests.  He  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  Light- 
ing Company  furnishing  liolh  gas  and  electricity  to  nearly 


all  of  Westchester  County  and  ])art  of  New  Vork  City.  Mr. 
Stratton  modestly  sa^'s  the  superior  service  his  company  is 
giving  the  peojile,  and  the  business-like  administration  of  its 
affairs,  is  due  entirely  to  the  valuable  advice  <»f  the  other 
oHicers  of  the  companv,  together  u-ith  the  able  and  efficient 
assistance  of  the  engineers  of  the  different  departments,  and 
of  the  superintendents  in  the  various  divisions,  with  the  loyal 
service  of  the  employees  generallv,  rather  than  to  any  execu- 
tive ability  which  he  may  possess.  .\Ir.  Stratton,  though  iU)t 
actively  engjiged  in  any  other  business,  is  interested  in  several 
other  enterprises  and  v.'irious  oper;itions.  Among  others  he 
is  secrctarv  and  treasurer  of  the  Dominion  Coal  Company, 
of  Virginia;  ])resident  of  the  Dominion  .Mining  Comj)any,  of 
Virginia;  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  .McClure  Coal  Com- 
jiany;  also  ;i  director  in  the  I)um])s  Creek  Coal,  Land  and 
Timber  Comjiany,  the  Amerieati  Land  Company-,  the  Monte 
\'ista  Cemetery  Comjiany,  the  Watauga  Lighting  Company, 
the  Johnson  City  Traction  Company,  and  is  financialU*  inter- 
ested in  several  others.  Mr.  Stratton  is  a  rnemlier  of  the 
New  Rochclle  Yacht  Club,  the  Siwanoy-  Country  Club  of 
Mount  X'ernon,  and  the  Lotus  Club  of  New  York  City. 

HENRY  C.  J()NIi;S,  .M.D.,  was  born  in  East  Hartford, 
Conn.,  November  2(),  1833,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
liiiglish  and  Classical  School  of  that  place  and  Conn.  Lit- 
erary Institution.  He  studied  medicine  in  Hartford  and  grad- 
uated at  the  Worcester  Medical  College,  Mass.,  185G,  and  set- 
tled in  the  fall  of  that  year,  in  -Mt.  \'ernon,  where  he  has  re- 
mained from  that  time  to  the  present.  Dr.  Jones  has  had 
in  his  day  a  very  large  and  prominent  clientele,  but  is  now 
taking  only  a  very  limited  jiractice.  Dr  Jones  in  ])olitics  is  a 
Republican,  but  he  has  always  refused  to  be  a  candidate  for 
any  jiolitical  oilice.  In  the  village  life  of  .Mt.  Vernon  he  was 
for  a  period  a  memlier  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He  is  at 
present  and  has  been  for  a  great  many  years  a  Director  in 
the  Bank  of  Mount  X'ernon,  .\.  Y.  Dr.  Jones  is  <'i  member  of 
the  Westchester  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Society  and 
the  American  Institution  of  Homeojiathy.  He  is  a  jiublic 
spirited  citizen,  aiding  all  kinds  of  improvement  for  the  good 
of  the  city  and  has  been  especially  active  in  promoting  ed- 
ucational interests.  He  is  possessed  of  much  general  informa- 
tion, is  a  close  student,  a  good  business  man,  an  agreeable 
aciiuainiance  and  a  warm  and  abiding  friend. 

J0SI:PH  AC.ATl-:  Iiorsi:,  .M.D.,  was  bom  in  New  Vork 
City,  January  8,  l.S5().  He  graduated  at  the  Troy  Academy 
and  afterward  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of  New  Vork 
in  1880,  and  affiliated  wHth  the  Homeopathic  School,  in  1881. 
Dr.  House  has  been  a  resident  of  Mount  ^'erllon  for  ten  years, 
and  has  practiced  his  profession  with  much  success  and  dis- 
tinction. He  is  a  Re]nibHcan  in  politics,  a  member  of  the 
Westchester  County  .Medical  Society  and  also  of  the  New  Vork 
Homeopathic  .Medical  Society.  He  is  not  married.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  culture  ;ind  refinement,  courteous  in  manner, 
and  deservedly  pojuilar.  He  is  sincere  in  his  friendshi])  ;ind 
is  a  conscientious,  faithful,  vigilant  physician,  and  greatly 
esteemed. 

H.  IvLGIvNI-  SMITH,  M.D..  was  born  in  Jersey  City, 
N.  J..  July  +,  18(;o.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Henry  C.  Smith, 
of  Mount  X'ernon,  who  was  prominently  connected  for  many 
years  with  the  Custom  House,  New  Vork ;  removed  to  Mount 
X'ernon  in  1884-,  organized  and  was  the  first  President  of  the 
People's  Bank,  now  the  First  National  Bank.  He  was  an 
enthusiastic  fireman,  belonged  to  Mount  X'ernon  Steamer 
Com])any,  and  was  highly  esteemed  at  the  time  of  his  deatli, 


S2 


H  I  S  T  ( )  R  \-    ( )  F    M  O  U  N  T   \^  E  R  X  O  N 


in  1890.    Doctor  Smith  acquired  much  of  his  education  in 
PubHc  No.  18  and  the  old  School  No.  35,  whose  principal  was 
Thomas  F.  Hunter.    An  association  named  after  Mr.  Hunter  still 
exists  and  graduates  therefrom  comprise  a  number  of  prominent 
names,  including  financial,  political  and  professional  celebrities. 
Dr.  Smith  studied  also  in  the  college  of  the  City  of  New  York  ; 
after  graduating  he  matriculated  in  the  University  Medical 
College  of  New  York,  1880,  and  graduated  v\'ith  high  honors  in 
the  class  of  1883.    After  a  hospital  practice  and  career  in  the 
department  of  charities  and  correction  for  eighteen  months, 
and  wishing  to  travel  he  gratified  his  desire  and  went  abroad 
and  visited  various  hospitals  and  medical  colleges  in  the  old 
world.    Upon  his  return  from  Europe  he  practiced  his  pro- 
fession in  New  York  City  continuously  until  1886,  and  then 
removed  to  Mount  Vernon,  where  several  of  his  family  re- 
sided.   Doctor  Smith  is  a  man  of  affairs.    He  is  a  member 
of  a  number  of  medical  societies,  including  Westchester  Medical 
Association,  Jenkin's  Medical  Society,  The  Physicians'  Mutual 
Aid  Society,  The  American  Medical  Association,  and  the  Asso- 
ciation of  Military  Surgeons  of  the  United  States.    He  was 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  First  Regiment,  N.  Y.  N.  G.,  and 
surgeon  of  the  11th  Battahon  until  it  disbanded.    He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order  from  Hiawatha  Lodge,  No.  434, 
F.   and  A.   M.   to  Mecca   Temple    (Mystic  Shrine),  Royal 
Arcanum,  Foresters,  Order  of  Red  Men,  Loyal  Legion  (New 
York  Commandery ) ,   Sons  of  Veterans,  Azin  Grotto  of  Veiled 
Prophets,  the  Elks,  Knights  of  St.  John  and  Malta  and  a 
member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.    He  was  elected  to  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Mount  Vernon  in  1889  by  a  large  majority, 
and  re-elected  by  an  increased  majority.    Dr.  Smith  belong- 
ing to  the  Brotherhood  of  Bachelors,  has  naturally  identified 
himself  with  club  life  and  its  environments.    For  many  years 
he  has  lieen  a  member  of  the  City  Club  of  Mount  \'ernon, 
was  its  president  several  times;  declined  re-election  and  gave 
his  warm  support  to  his  successor,  Doctor  Edward  F.  Brush, 
the  present  encumbent,  although  he  remains  on  the  Board 
of  Governors.   He  is  a  member  also  of  the  Westchester  Wheel- 
men, the  Mount  Vernon  Turn  \'erein,  and  New  York  Athletic 
Club.    He  is  steady  and  unwavering  in  his  advocacy  and 
support  of  the  principles  of  Jeffersonian  Democracy,  has  filled 
the  position  of  police  surgeon,  and  has  been  city  physician, 
and  since  1897  has  been  Health  Officer.    Doctor  Smith  is  fond 
of  music,  a  patron  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Musical  Society  and 
the  late  Choral  Society.    Although  much  of  his  time  is  de- 
voted to  worldly  pleasures  and  diversions,  and  his  prominence 
in  society,  he  is  unobtrusively  interested  in  church  matters, 
and  particularly  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination.  He 
is  a  man  of  large  heart,  generous  and  charitable  in  his  im- 
pulses and  genial  and  refined  in  nature.    Having  a  pleasing 
address,  his  courtesy  readily  wins  him  friends  whom  his  ster- 
ling virtues  retain. 

GEORGE  C.  WELSS,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon, 
May  20,  1861,  he  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and 
graduated  at  the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York  and  at 
the  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College.  He  has  lived  in  the 
city  during  his  entire  life  and  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
was  House  Surgeon  of  Charity  Hospital  in  1884,  Health 
OfBcer  of  the  city  in  1887,  City  Alderman  in  1895  and  1897, 
and  President  of  the  Board  of  Health  in  1899.  He  is  a  mem- 
l)cr  of  the  City  Club  of  Mount  Vernon,  President  of  the  Medi- 
cal Association  of  Mount  Vernon  and  environs  and  member 
of  the  Medical  Society  of  Westchester  County  and  of  the 
State  Medical  Society;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  the  Alumni  of  City  (charity)  Hospital,  New  York  City. 
Dr.  Weiss  is  prominently  identified  with  the  Mount  Vernon 
Hospital,  being  Visiting  Surgeon  and  a  member  of  the  Board 


of  Managers;  he  is  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Training 
School  for  Nurses,  connected  with  the  hospital.  When  an 
officer  of  the  city,  he  used  his  influence  for  its  benefit  and  was 
sure  to  be  found  on  the  side  of  progress  in  everj'thing  that 
tended  to  promote  the  development  and  industries  of  the 
community.  He  has  a  large  practice,  stands  high  in  his  pro- 
fession and  discharges  his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 
He  is  broad-minded  and  liberal  in  his  views  and  is  popular 
with  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

JOHN  LAWRENCE  HUGHES,  M.D.,  of  Mount  Vernon, 
N.  v.,  was  b(jrn  in  the  City  of  New  York,  October  20,  1876, 
he  received  his  preliminary  education  at  the  Columbia  Gram- 
mar School,  New  York ;  he  then  entered  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons,  of  the  Columbia  University,  New  York, 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1899.  He  was  resident  physi- 
cian at  the  City  (charity)  Hospital,  Blackwell's  Island,  from 


JOHN  I.AWKHNCK  HI'CtHH.S.  M.IK 

1899  to  1901.  He  was  resident  physician  at  the  New  York 
Infant  .\syluni  from  1901  to  1902.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  the  Alumni  of  City  Hospital,  also  of  the  Medical 
Society  of  the  County  of  Westchester.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  Mount  Vernon  for  five  years,  his  residence  and  office  are 
located  at  21  Archer  avenue,  Chester  Hill. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  PURDY,  M.D.,  was  born  at  Harrison, 
Westchester  County,  N.  Y.  His  early  education  was  at  the 
district  schools  of  Harrison  and  Rye  Neck,  later  at  Chappa- 
qua  Mount  Institute,  then  entered  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  with  honors.  He  has  lived 
in  Mount  Vernon  five  years.  Dr.  Purdy's  ancestor,  Francis 
Purdy,  came  to  this  country  in  the  year  1638  from  York- 
shire, England,  and  was  among  the  earlier  settlers  of  West- 
chester County.  His  descendants  lived  in  Harrison  and  other 
places  in  the  county  and  also  in  Fairfield  County,  Conn. 
His  great  great  grand-father  was  Caleb  Purdy  and  married 


iii;nk\'  c.  i-okihiam. 


1 1  1  s  T  ( I  K  V  OF  ^r  ()  r  x  r  \'  !■:  \<  x  o  x 


ll.iniiah  liiown.  His  ^rcat  •^raiul-l'allKT  wjis  lilias  l'ur(l_v 
and  married  kachacl  Mcrritt,  his  ^^r.-ind-i'alhcr  was  William 
Henry  Purdy  and  married  Hannah  I'urdy,  his  father  was 
William  Ilcnry  I'urdy  and  married  Mary  Francis  I'urdy, 
One  of  the  landmarks  of  Mount  Vernon  is  the  old  I'urdy 
homestead  on  the  northeast  corner  of  South  Sixth  avenue 
and  West  4th  street,  which  was  owned  1)3^  Sylvanus  I'urdy, 
>^rand-uncle  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  old  I'urdy 
farm-house  is  still  in  a  line  stale  nf  jjreservation.  Dr.  I'urdy 
is  a  prominent  physician  of Mouni  \  crnon,  was  elected  ])rcsi- 
dent  of  the  Board  ol  IlcaUli  Fel)ruary,  1901,  and  is  the 
present  incumbent  of  the  oirue.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
testant Ivpiscopal  church,  the  Westchester  County  Medical 
Society,  Mount  \'ernon  Medical  Society,  Royal  Arcanum, 
Hiawatha  Lodge,  Bethlehem  Commandcrv  P.  and  A.  M.,  and 
Mecca  Shrine.  He  was  married  June  27,  I'JOO,  to  Miss  (Irace 
.Maud  Bronson,  daughter  ol  Charles  Randolf  Bronson,  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.  She  is  a  graduate  of  Pmerson  College  of 
()rat(jry,  Boston,  Mass.  She  is  a  fine  elocutionist  and  a  lady 
of  culture  and  refinement,  and  never  so  happy  as  when  en- 
gaged in  good  and  charitable  deeds.  I'r.  I'nrdy  is  a  refined, 
hospitable  and  courteous  gentleman,  simple  and  unaftt'ctcd 
in  manner,  generous  to  all  in  distress,  and  is  always  ready 
to  assist  in  every  philanthropic  and  religious  enterprise,  lie 
holds  a  leading  place  in  his  ])rofession  and  society,  and  his 
personal  honor  and  integrity  are  without  blemish. 

1H)X.  ISA.\C  .\.  MILLS,  lawyer  and  jurist,  was  b<n-n  in 
Thompson,  Conn.,  September  10,  1S51.  He  is  descended  from 
a  distinguished  family  of  Rhode  Island  Quakers,  old  residents 
of  that  State,  among  whom  was  General  ("ireene,  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame.  Judge  .Mills  entered  Providence  Conference 
Seminary,  at  Greenwich,  R.  I.,  to  prepare  for  college;  there 
he  graduated  in  1878,  and  then  attended  .\mherst  College. 
During  his  course  there,  he  was  distinguished  for  his  excellence 
in  the  classics,  philosojjhy,  physiology  and  extemperancous 
oratory;  he  graduated  in  187-i  and  was  the  valetudinarian 
of  his  class.  Subsequently  he  entcreii  Columbia  L;nv  College, 
from  whence  he  graduated  in  187(),  with  many  honors.  He 
removed  to  Mount  \'crnon  the  same  3'ear  and  began  the 
Ijractice  of  law  and  became  famous  in  his  ])roiession  and  has 
been  connected  with  many  important  cases.  In  1883  he  was 
elected  County  Judge,  and  filled  that  position  until  1895, 
with  ability  and  impartiality.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican  in 
politics  and  is  high  and  influential  in  the  councils  of  his  party, 
and  an  earnest  advocate  of  its  principles.  He  was  elected 
State  Senator  in  1900,  and  renominated  in  1902.  He  is  Past 
.Master  of  the  Masonic  Order,  a  Knights  Temj)lar,  a  member 
of  the  New  England  Society  and  the  Sons  of  the  Kevohnion. 
ludge  Mills  has  pre-eminently  a  legal  mind  with  an  acute 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  well  prepared  for  the  consider- 
ation and  decision  of  intricate  points  of  law,  and  is  chosen 
among  the  able  jurists  of  the  State.  His  interests  in  his 
clients'  cases  is  unfailing,  leaves  nothing  to  uncertainties,  but 
is  alwa\'S  full\'  prejiared  and  presents  the  evidence  with  con- 
vincing effect.  By  the  strength  of  his  personal  character,  his 
fidelitv,  uniform  courtesy,  unquestioned  integrity  and  legal 
ability,  he  has  won  eminent  distinction. 

lOSLPH  S.  WOOD  became  a  resident  of  .Mount  Vernon 
[anuarj-  2,  1865.  He  has  contiimed  to  be  one  ever  since. 
He  has  had  much  to  do  with  history  of  Mount  \'ernon.  PVom 
the  day  he  took  up  his  residence  here  until  now  he  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  man)'  of  the  improve- 
ments and  benefits  which  the  Cit}'  enjoys  arc  due  to  his  en- 
ergy and  foresight.  He  came  here  as  the  jirincipal  of  the 
schools  of  School  District  Number  Four  of  the  Town  of  liast- 


chestcr.  This  district  included  nearly  all  ol  the  village  of 
.Mount  X'ernon,  and  several  adjoining  villages  als(j.  During 
the  twelve  years  prior  to  January  1,  1805,  it  had  had  seven 
|)rincipals;  and  the  schools  were  naturally  in  a  disordered 
condition.  I'-rom  the  day  .Mr.  Wood  took  hold  of  them  they 
improved  and  grewra])i(il3',  so  thaton  his  retirement  from  their 
superintendence  in  1870  it  was  generall)'  conceded  that  the 
I)ublic  schools  of  .Mount  \'ernon  were  among  the  ver}'  best 
in  the  State.  I'or  the  tw(j  ye.'irs  immediately  preceding  his 
residence  in  .Mount  N'crnon  .Mr.  Wo(jt1  had  been  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Cooper  Union  in  New  \<>rk  Cit\-;  and  f<jr  one 
year  after  he  became  the  i)rinciijal  of  the  -Mount  \'ernon  school 
he  still  retained  the  ])rincipalshi])  of  the  Cooper  Union  Night 
School.  At  that  time  he  was  only  twenty-two  3'ears  of  age. 
On  his  retirement  from  the  Ccjcjper  Union  the  trustees  i)assed 
a  rcs(jlution  highh'  commending  him  for  his  successful  adminis- 
tration of  its  man3'  de])artments  Jind  for  the  improvements 
and  extensions  he  had  introduced,  .\bout  the  3'ear  1805  the 
so-called  Boulevard  Ring  was  at  the  height  of  its  power.  It 
had  almost  all  of  Westchester  County  at  its  mere3'.  William 
.M.  Tweed  w;is  then  .'dl-powerful  in  New  York  Cit3-  and  State, 
and  some  of  his  satellites  had  taken  u|)  their  residence  in  this 
vicinity.  They  were  causing  acts  to  lie  passed  b3'  the  legis- 
l.'itnre  in  which  Tweed's  nod  was  suflicient,  bonding  the  towns 
in  the  lower  ])art  of  this  county  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  lor  niac£idamized  roads,  and  the  burden  was  greater 
than  the  taxpayers  could  bear.  Mr.  Wood  determined  to  do 
what  he  could  to  stop  the  extravagance,  corruption  and 
fraud  of  this  Boidevard  Ring.  In  1808  there  was  a  little 
newspaper  published  in  -Mount  \'ernon  bv  two  3'oung  men, 
Arthur  .MacDonald,  jr.,  and  Samuel  lloldrege,  both  of  whom 
had  been  pu])ils  under  .Mr.  Wood  in  the  .Mt.  \'ernon  schools. 
.\s  they  wished  to  sell  out  their  paper,  Mr.  Wood  bought  it. 
He  enlarged  and  greatly  imi)royed  it,  anil  called  it  "The 
Chronicle."  He  took  it  to  fight  the  Boulevard  Ring  and  to 
advocate  generally  the  interests  of  the  ])eople ;  and  for  twent)'- 
five  years,  as  long  as  he  wielded  his  trenchant  pen,  "The 
Chronicle"  was  a  ])owcr  in  Westchester  County.  The  fight 
against  the  Boulevartl  Ring  was  a  long  and  a  bitter  one, 
l)ut  "The  Chronicle"  won  out.  .Mr.  Wood  then  took  up  the 
demand  for  lower  rates  of  fare  on  the  New  York  and  New 
Haven  Railroad.  At  first  his  efforts  were  laughed  at.  Who 
had  ever  heard  of  a  newspaper  or  a  ])rivatc  individual  com- 
pelling a  gigantic  railroad  corjjoration  to  reduce  its  fares.' 
But  the  fight  went  on.  Year  after  year  the  struggle  was  re- 
newed in  the  legislature,  and  finally,  in  1873,  the  railroad 
came  to  terms  and  reduced  its  rates  of  fare.  The  commuta- 
tion rates  were  reduced  from  $95  a  year  to  $00,  and  the 
way  fare  from  forty-five  cents  to  thirty  cents.  Mainly  for 
this  achievement,  but  incidentally  for  other  good  works  as 
well,  about  a  hundred  of  the  leading  citizens  of'  -Mount  Vernon, 
at  a  j)ublic  meeting,  presented  -Mr.  Wood  with  a  beautiful 
gold  watch,  in  which  is  this  inscrijUion  :  "  Presented  to  Jo.seph 
S.  Wood  l)y  his  friends  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of 
his  ctlorts  on  behalf  of  the  Public.  .Mount  \ernon,  N.  Y., 
May  5tli,  1873."  About  the  time  this  contest  was  brought 
to  a  hapjn-  issue,  theic  was  an  era  of  extravagance  and  reck- 
lessness in  the  town  governmeni,  espeei;illy  among  some  of 
the  justices  of  the  peace.  Tramps  were  .sent  to  the  county 
jail  by  the  score  every  week,  ami  in  many  ca.ses,  although 
sentenced  for  a  month,  they  were  back  again  and  ready  for 
recommitment  in  a  very  few  days.  I'or  each  coniniiiment 
a  justice  ol  the  jieace  received  several  dollars.  Prominent 
among  the  justices  of  the  i)cacc  .'it  that  time  was  Robert 
W.  Edmonds,  and  for  many  ye.irs  he  proved  himself  so  adroit 
a  politician  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  him  out  of  oflice. 
His  bills  against  the  town  for  services  were  especially  large, 


HISTORY    OF    AI  ()  U  N  T    V  E  K  X  ON. 


SG 

and  Mr.  Wood,  through  "The  Chronicle"  and  in  pubHc  meet- 
ings, opposed  them  vigorouslj-.     One  of  the  improvements 
which  Mr.  Wood  persistently  advocated  was  the  making  into 
a  park  of  all  the  land  between  the  New  York,  New  Haven  & 
Hartford  Railroad,  Lincoln  avenue,  as  it  is  now  called,  Fourth 
avenue  and  Crary  avenue.    Mr.  Charles  Crar3'  offered  to  give 
a  large  part  of  the  land  and  other  landowners  who  owned 
parts  of  the  proposed  park  offered  to  donate  their  land  also. 
In  fact,  the  entire  plot  could  have  been  secured  for  $60,000. 
Almost  every  progressive  man  in  Alount  Vernon  favored  the 
project,  but  the  great  majority  voted  it  down.    Mr.  Wood 
also  advocated  securing  a  water-supply  for  Mount  Vernon 
from  the  upper  part  of  the  Hutchinson  River;  but  while  the 
people  were  arguing  over  the  question  Mr.  Adrian  Iselin  se- 
cured it  and  organized  the  New  Rochelle  Water  Company. 
Shortly  after  this  the  Mount  Vernon  Water  Company  was 
organized,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  get  a  water-supply 
from  an  artesian  well.    The  village  however  vtry  soon  out- 
grew the  supply,  and  the  company  passed  into   the  hands 
of  outside  capitalists.    In  1876  Mr.  Wood  resigned  the  princi- 
palship  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Public  Schools  to  resume  the 
study  of  law,  which  he  had  begun  when  superintendent  of  the 
Cooper  Union,  and  in  1877  he  was  admitted   to  the  Bar. 
As  his  business  increased  rapidly,  he  took  in  as  a  partner  Mr. 
Isaac  N.  Mills,  who  had  been  a  fellow-student  with  him  at 
Columbia  College  Law  School,  and  that  partnership  lasted 
six  years.    In  1877  Mr.  Wood  was  elected  as  the  School  Com- 
missioner of  the  First  District  of  Westchester  County,  which 
office  he  held  for  three  years.    In  1878  Mr.  Wood  married 
Miss  Susie  E.  Mixsell,  and  their  home  has  ever  since  been  a 
center  of  social  and  intellectual  culture  and  enjoyment.  Thej' 
have  been  blessed  with  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls; 
but  they  lost  the  elder  of  the  latter  when  she  was  in  the  tenth 
year  of  her  age.    About  1882  Mr.  Wood  and  Mr.  John  Mullaly 
— who  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  "New  York  Herald" — 
organized  the  movement  which  culminated  in  the  creation  of 
the  Van   Courtlandt,   Bronx  and  Pelham  Bay  Parks.  Mr. 
Mullaly  wrote  a  series  of  articles  in  the  "New  York  Herald" 
on  the  subject,  and  through  a  common  friend,  he  and  Mr. 
Wood  were  made  acquainted  with  each  other.   At  Mr.  Wood's 
suggestion,  it  was  resolved  to  organize  a  Park  Association 
to  put  the  project  in  practical  shape.    A  parlor  in  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Hotel  was  secured  and  the  invitations  for  a  meeting 
thereat  were  prepared  by  Mr.  Wood  and  were  printed  in  the 
office  of  "The  Chronicle."    At  the  outset,  the  Bronx  Park 
and  the  Parkways  were  not  thought  of.   They  were  suggested 
later  by  Mr.  Charles  Crary.    The  only  one  of  the  three  great 
parks  which  is  twice  as  large  as   Van   Courtlandt  Park, 
wholly  in  the  limits  of  New    York  City  was   Van  Court- 
landt Park,  and  nearly  every  member  of  the  Park  Association 
was  a  prominent  citizen  who  resided  or  owned  property  in  its 
vicinity.    It  was  Mr.  Wood  who  proposed  the  Pelham  Bay 
Park,   which  is  twice  as  large  as   Van   Courtlandt  Park, 
and    which    was    then    wholly  outside    the    limits    of  New 
York  City.    Almost  all  the  other  members  of  the  Park  Asso- 
ciation strongly  opposed  the  Pelham  Bay  Park,  saying  it 
would  kill  the  whole  project  to  ask  for  it,  but  Mr.  Wood  was 
backed  up  by  Mr.  Crary  and  a  few  others,  and  ultimately 
won,  by  threatening  t(j  oppose  the  Van  Courtlandt  Park  if 
the  Pelham  Bay  Park  were  not  included  in  the  plan.  When 
a  commission  was  appointed  by  the  legislature  to  report  on 
the  proposition,  the  Honorable  Luther  R.  Marsh  was  made 
the  chairman  thereof;  and  as  he  had  the  foresight  and  breadth 
of  view  to  realize  the  magnificent  possibilities  of  Pelham  Bay 
Park,   he  became  one  of  its  most  enthusiastic  advocates. 
The  struggle  lasted  for  several  years,  Mayor  Grace  and  ex- 
Mayor  Hewitt  being  among  the  most  bitter  opponents  of  the 


project;  but  through  the  devotion  of  Messrs.  Marsh,  Wood 
and  Mullaly,  i'elham  Bay  I'ark  was  established  as  a  part 
(jf  the  great  park  scheme  of  which  New  York  City  is  now  so 
justly  proud.    In  1885  Mr.  Wood  was  the  corporation  counsel 
of  the  Village  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  a  short  time  later  became 
the  counsel  for  the  Eastchester  Savings  Bank.    Mr.  Wood, 
in  1891,  favored  the  organization  of  Mount  Vernon  as  a  city, 
and  assisted  in  the  making  of  the  city  charter.   In  1886,  when 
James  G.  Blaine  ran  against  Grover  Cleveland  for  the  Presi- 
dency, there  was  a  split  in  the  Republican  I'arty.    In  Mount 
Vernon  it  was  wide  and  deep.    Mr.  Wood  was  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Mugwumps  and  challenged  the  champions  of  the 
Republicans  to  a  public  debate.    The  challenge  was  accepted, 
and  two  nights  for  the  debate  were  selected.    On  the  first 
night  his  former  partner.  Judge  Mills,  was  his  adversary; 
on  the  second  night  the  Rev.  Oliver  D3'er  took  up  the  cudgels 
for  the  Republicans.   It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  excitement 
was  intense  and  that  Fuller's  Hall,  where  the  debate  took 
place,  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.    Shortly  after  the 
city  was  created  it  became  necessary  to  look  for  an  additional 
water-supply,  as  the  one  on  which  the  city  had  to  depend 
was  inadequate.   A  water  commission  was  thereupon  organized 
under  a  special  act  of  the  legislature,  and  Mr.  Wood  was  made 
its  counsel.    The  report  of  that  body,  which  was  very  com- 
prehensive and  exhaustive,  pointed  out  the  way  in  which 
the  city  could  secure  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  and  potable 
water,  and  the  water  compan}^  was  swift  to  carry  out  the 
coinmission's  recommendations.     The  matter  of  an  outlet 
sewer  for  the  disposal  of  the  sewerage  by  filter-beds  or  other 
means  has  been  agitated  by  Mr.  Wood  for  many  years,  and 
it  now  appears  probable  that  an  excellent  plan  for  sewage 
disposal  hy  a  filter-fjed  will  soon  he  carried  out.    In  1898 
Mr.  Wood  was  elected  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, and  through  his  knowledge  of  the  Public  School  System 
was  able  to  recommend  many  improvements.    He  earnestly 
favored  the  purchase  of  a  tract  of  five  acres  for  a  children's 
playground,  at  a  cost  of  $25,000,  but  the  people  voted  it 
down.    In  1899  and  1900  Mr.  Wood  was  the  president  of  the 
Westchester  County  Bar  Association.    He  has  also  been  the 
president  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Board  of  Trade  and  several 
other  organizations.    There  has  not  been  a  year  since  Mr. 
Wood  took  up  his  residence  in  Mount  Vernon  wherein  he  has 
not  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.    His  voice  and 
pen  have  always  been  found  on  the  side  of  justice,  economy, 
progress,  reform  and  improvements.    For  several  years  past 
Mr.  Wood  has  given  a  considerable  part  of  his  time  and  energy 
to  securing  for  Mount  Vernon  additional  transportation  lines 
and  facilities,  realizing  that  in  that  way  lies  prosperity.  He 
has  been  an  outspoken  champion  for  every  extension  and  im- 
provement to  the  trolley  lines  which  would  help  Mount  Vernon, 
likewise  the  New  York  and  Portchester  Railroad,  and  espe- 
cially for  the  continuation  of  the  rapid  transit  system  of 
New  York  City  to  the  Mount  Vernon  boundary  line.  This 
last  named  extension  is  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  realized. 
Mr.  Wood  graduated  in  1861,  with  high  honors,  from  the 
New   York   Free  Academy — now  the  College  of  the  City  of 
New  York — and  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  its  affairs 
and  in  those  of  the  entire  public  school  system  of  New  Y'^ork 
City.    He  is  a  member  of  many  organizations,  among  them 
being  the  Refor.n  Club,  the  New  Y'ork  Athletic  Club,  the  Man- 
hattan Chess  Club,  the  Transportation  Club,  the  City  College 
Club,   The  City   Club,  the  Siwanoy  Club,   the  Westchester 
County  Bar  Association  and  the  Bar  Association  of  the  City 
of  New  York. 

CHARLES  H.  LOVETT,  was  born  at  Prattsville,  Greene 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  26,  1857,  being  the  onl}'  son  of 


josi:iMi   s.  wool). 


CHARLES    H.  LOVETT. 


HISTORY    ( )  I-    MOT  N  T    V  E  R  X  O  X  . 


Rev.  Xobk'  Lovctt,  of"  the  New  Vork  M.  1-^  Conference,  now 
(k'ccased.  When  fifteen  N'ears  of"  age  he  coiniiiciiced  to  su])- 
port  himself",  learned  a  trade,  and  by  working  and  tcachinj^ 
paid  his  way  throu<^h  school.  He  was  educated  at  the  New 
Vork  Conference  Seminary,  and  Colleiriate  Institute  of"  the 
M.  Iv.  Church,  at  Charlottevillc,  X.  \.,  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Albany,  the  Law  Department  ol  Tnion  College,  and 
the  Universitj-  of  the  City  of  New  Vork,  graduating  with 
honors,  in  18S0,  and  receiving  the  degree  of  LL.B.  In  May 
of  the  same  \-e  ir,  at  I'oughkeepsie,  N.  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  as  an  attorney  and  counselor  at  law  in  the 
State  courts,  and  has  since  been  admitted  to  practice 
in  the  U.  S.  Courts,  in  New  Vork,  New  jerse}-,  and 
Washington.  In  1880,  he  commenced  the  practice  of"  his 
profession  in  the  city  of  New  Vork,  and  by  his  ability  and 
faithful  attention  to  the  interests  of  his  clients  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  While  conducting  a  general  liti- 
gated business  he  has  given  special  attention  to  corporation, 
admiralty  and  surrogate's  practice,  and  now  holds  an  appoint- 
ment from  the  State  as  Transfer  Tax  Ajjpraiser  f"or  the  Coun- 
t\'  of  Westchester.  He  has  been  f"re(|tiently  honored  by  the 
Courts,  having  had  the  distinction,  within  a  period  of  two 
years,  of  receiving  references  in  important  matters  from  every 
Judge  then  on  the  Supreme  Court  bench,  in  New  York  County, 
and  from  the  Surrogate  of  that  County.  On  July  6,  1891, 
he  married  Miss  Florence  M.  Mills,  daughter  of  Edgar  K. 
Mills,  of  Helena,  Montana.  Mr.  Lovctt  lives  with  his  wHfe, 
one  son  and  two  daughters  at  271  Summit  avenue,  this  city, 
and  has  a  summer  home  at  Atlantic  Highlands,  N.  J.,  where 
he  has  large  real  estate  interests.  Me  has  offices  in  the  Post- 
Office  building,  this  cit)^  and  at  150  Nassau  street,  New 
York  City.  He  came  to  Mount  Vernon,  October  1,  1895,  and 
has  since  taken  an  active  interests  in  public  affairs.  In  1896, 
he  represented  the  cit\-  in  the  Common  Council,  and  in  the 
first  McKinle3'  campaign  was  corresponding  secretar}'  of  the 
McKinley  T-caguc  and  president  of  the  McKinlc3-  and  Hobart 
Club.  In  1900,  he  was  elected  to  the  Common  Council  by 
a  large  majoritv,  being  the  only  Republican  city  ofTicial  elected 
in  that  year.  During  his  term  as  .Alderman,  though  his  party 
was  in  the  minority  in  the  board,  Mr.  Lovett  succeeded  in 
uncovering  serious  irregularities  in  some  of  the  citj-  depart- 
ments then  under  the  control  of  his  political  opponents,  and 
as  a  result  of  his  fearless  probing,  and  the  resulting  exposures, 
public  feeling  was  aroused  to  such  an  extent  that  at  the  fol- 
lowing election  there  was  practically  a  political  revolution, 
nearly  every  RepubHcan  on  the  city  ticket  being  elected.  In 
1901,  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Common  Council,  and 
had  the  Mount  X'ernon  and  several  other  delegations  for  the 
nomination  for  District- Attorney  of  his  county.  He  is  now- 
serving  his  second  term  as  jiresident  of  the  Republican  Club 
of  the  City  of  Mount  \'ern<jn,  is  chairman  of  the  I--xecutive 
Committee  of  the  Republican  City  Committee,  and  in  1902, 
was  chairman  of  the  Republican  Campaign  Committee.  He 
is  an  exempt  fireman,  a  member  of  the  Chester  Hill  M.  E. 
Church,  and  has  associated  himself  with  the  Westchester 
County  Bar  Association,  the  Rei)ublican  Club  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  the  Board  of  Trade,  the  K.  of  P.,  the  I.  O.  of  O., 
the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  several  other  organizations. 

ROLLAND  B.  ARCHER  was  born  in  the  town  of  liast- 
chester,  April  2-t,  1807;  he  was  educated  at  the  public  schools 
of  Mount  Vernon,  graduated  from  Bleecker  and  High  street 
Sch(5ol  at  West  Mount  \'ernon  (known  as  the  Fifth  District 
School)  in  1883,  and  subsetjuently  graduated  from  Columbia 
College  Law  School  in  New  York,  in  1889,  with  degree  LL.B. 
After  graduating,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  September  8, 
1890,  at  Brooklyn;  was  managing  clerk  for  Joseph  A.  Wood 


H9 

until  the  s[)ring  of  IHU'i,  at  which  lime  he  began  the  jiractice 
of"  law  on  his  own  account.  In  1H97  he  received  degree  LL..\I. 
from  New  Vork  I'niversity.  In  ])olitics  he  is  a  Rejjublican, 
but  hiis  always  declined  offers  of  political  preferment,  us  the 
same  would  interfere  with  his  growing  law  practice.  He  has 
lived  ail  his  life  in  the  town  of"  Ivastchester  and  Mount  ^'er- 
non;  he  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  Rcjjub- 
lican  Club,  Westchester  Bar  Association,  Clinton  Hook  and 
Ladder  Comjiany,  New  Rochelle  Rowing  Club,  and  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  On  Septemlier  8,  1898,  he  married  .Miss 
Josephine  .Mcintosh;  they  have  one  son,  Rolland  B.  Archer, 
Jr.  .Mr.  Archer  comes  f"rom  an  old  and  distinguished  ancestry, 
is  a  leading  attorney  of  .Mount  \'ernon,  highly  ])opular  not 
oidy  with  his  colleagues,  but  among  all  classes.  He  is  honor- 
able and  upright,  with  unfailing  courtesy  to  all  with  whom 
he  conies  in  contact,  and  sincere  in  his  friendships.  He  dis- 
charges his  duties  faithfully  and  conscientiously,  and  by  his 
honorable  omrse  in  life  he  has  merited  the  confidence  ;ind 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 

J()HX  M.  Sill.X.X,  attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  was 
born  on  October  25,  lS+9,  at  Dubuque,  lowa.    His  ancestors 


JOHN     M.  SIIINN. 

came  to  the  I'nited  States  in  1(54-8  and  settled  in  New  Jersey. 
He  was  educated  at  the  High  Scht>ol,  Waterloo,  Iowa,  Poly- 
techni(jue  Institute,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  National  University  ot 
Washington,  New  York  Law  School,  New  York  Cit^-,  and  the 
I  niversity  Law  School.  He  is  a  Republican  in  polities  and 
(juite  active.  He  was  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  is  now  Super- 
visor of  the  town  of  Pelham,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Su])ervisors  l"or  two  years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  and  jmncijial  of  the  Pelham  Manor 
School.  .\t  Washington,  D.  C,  he  was  in  charge  of  the  col- 
lection and  tabulation  of  statistics  relating  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  Churches  for  1880.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Republi- 


90 


H  I  S  T  O  K'  V    OF    MOUNT  VERNON 


can  Clubs  of  the  cities  of  New  York,  New  Kochellc  and  Mount 
\'ernon.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Order,  K()\al  Arcanum, 
Foresters  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
I'elhaiu  Manor.  On  October  20,  1876,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Isabelle  K.ing,  formerly  of  London,  England ;  there  are 
three  children  living:  Natalie  F.,  Grace  A.  and  John  M.,  Jr. 
Mr.  Shinn  is  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  fine  intelligence;  he 
is  particularly  fitted  for  the  profession  which  he  has  chosen 
to  follow  and  his  well  known  ability  and  public  spirit  have 
gained  for  him  many  admirers  and  friends. 

FRANK  M.  buck:,  born  October  27,  185;),  Tarrytown' 
Westchester  County,  N.  V.  Father,  David  Buck,  a  minister 
of  ttie  Alethodist  Episcopal  Church,  now  living,  age  92.  Mr. 
Buck  attended  school  at  Drew  Seminary,  Carmel,  Putnam 
County,  N.  V.,  for  four  3'ears,  and  graduated  therefrom.  He 
also  attended  the  New  York  Uinversity  Law  School  for  two 
years,  receiving  his  diplomti  in  the  year  1884.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  received  his  diploma  as  an  attorney 
and  counsellor  at  law  in  the  year  1885.  He  opened  an  office 
in  New  York  City  at  No.  229  Broadway,  and  continued  there 
until  1889,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Milo  J.  White, 
and  opened  an  ofiice  in  Mount  \'ernon  on  the  corner  of  Fourth 
avenue  and  First  street.  In  1886,  Mr.  Buck  married  Minnie 
L.  Cline,  of  South  Anienia,  Dutchess  County,  N.  W,  and  the 
following  year  removed  from  New  York  City  to  No.  338  South 
Fifth  avenue,  Mount  Vernon,  buying  the  property  from  Mor- 
ton L.  Doremus.  Mr.  Buck  has  always  been  active  in  politics, 
being  a  staunch  adherent  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
been  at  different  times.  Assistant  District  Attorney  of  this 
County,  Deputy  Attorney  General,  and  has  Ijeen  for  the  past 
two  years  and  is  at  this  time,  holding  the  position  of  Attor- 
ney for  the  State  Comptroller  in  this  county,  in  all  proceed- 
ings pertaining  to  the  collection  of  the  Collateral,  Inheritance, 
or  Transfer  Tax.  Mr.  Buck  has  two  children.  Franklin  and 
Helen,  aged  respectivel3'  14  and  8  years,  and  resides  in  a 
handscjme  house  at  No.  284  Rich  avenue. 

WILLIAM  J.  MARSHALL,  Corporation  Counsel  of  the 
city  of  Mount  Vernon,  was  born  in  the  town  <j1  Eastchester, 
May  10,  1858.  His  father  was  Willia.n  Marshall,  a  native 
of  New  Rochelle,  N.  V.,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  in 
Westchester  County.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  pursued  his 
studies  in  the  public  schools  of  Mount  \'ern(jn  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  at  Poughkeepsic,  N.  V.,  in  May  1879,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  successful  practice  of  law.  In 
June  1897  he  was  appointed  Corporation  C<junsel  for  the  city 
for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  that  is  his  present  official  posi- 
tion. He  is  a  Democrat  politically  and  has  rendered  effective 
service  to  his  party.  He  married  Miss  Sadie  E.  Quirke,  of 
Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  the  daughter  of  Thomas  Quirke,  an  influential 
and  respected  citizen  of  that  place.  Mr.  Marshall  is  a  good 
lawyer,  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  gentleman,  kind  in  manner, 
and  has  many  friends.  He  is  a  progressive  citizen  and  may 
be  counted  on  for  his  share  in  whatever  is  proposed  for  the 
welfare  of  the  community. 

CHARLES  WATERS  SINNOTT,  attorney  at  law,  member 
of  the  firm  of  Ferguson  &  Sinnott  (with  offices  at  41  Park 
Row  New  York),  is  a  native  of  New  York  City  and  was  born 
September  18,  1877.  His  father,  Thomas  Sinnott,  was  an  old 
resident  and  merchant  of  New  York  City;  his  mother,  Maria 
T.  Waters,  was  the  daughter  of  Charles  Waters,  one  of  the 
first  trunk  and  leather  goods  manufacturers  in  New  York. 
Mr.  Sinnott  attended  school  in  New  York,  moved  to  Mount 
Vernon  in  188G  and  was  five  years  in  public  school  here,  and 


up(3n  graduation  entered  Fordham  College  in  1891,  whence 
he  graduated  in  189  ()  with  degree  of  A.  B,  He  received 
Hughes  medal  for  competetive  examination  in  mental  and 
moral  philosophy.  He  then  entered  New  York  Law  School  in 
September,  1896,  to  pursue  his  studies,  and  in  1898  received 
degree  of  LL.B.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  State 
of  New  York  the  same  year.  He  was  managing  clerk  for  the 
law  firm  of  Sheehan  &  Collin,  of  New  York,  the  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  being  Lieutenant-Governor  Wm.  F.  Sheehan, 
and  Chas.  A.  Collin,  formerly  legal  adviser  to  Governor  Hill 
and  Flower.  He  remained  with  this  firm  fi)r  three  years  and 
in  1899  formed  a  partnership  with  Wm.  A.  Ferguson,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  They  conduct  the  practice  of  their  profession 
with  much  success  and  have  been  engaged  in  many  important 
cases,  among  others  the  famous  Fiske-Brush  election  contest 
for  Mayor  of  Mount  Vernon,  representing  the  Hon.  Edwin  W. 
Fiske,  and  were  successful  in  sustaining  his  election  after  a 


chakm-s  \\  ati;rs  sixnott. 

hard  legal  contest.  Mr.  Sinnott  reccivctl  the  degree  ol  .Master 
of  Arts  from  Fordham  College,  in  1899;  he  was  appointed 
acting  City  Judge  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  nine  months. 
He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  is  a  member  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Mount  Vernon,  Royal  Arcanum, 
Knights  of  Columbus,  Westchester  County  Wheelmen  and 
Siwanoy  Country  Club.  On  April  23,  1902,  he  was  married 
to  Elsie  Marie  Ofenstein,  who  is  the  grand-daughter  of  Jacob 
Weimar,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Mount  Vernon.  Mr.  Weimar 
resided  here  since  1853,  and  was  famous  as  an  inventor  of 
locks  and  combinations  for  large  safes  and  bank  vaults.  He 
was  for  fifty  years  with  the  Herring-Hall  Safe  Company,  of 
New  York,  Mr,  Sinnott  is  a  gentleman  of  integrity  and  honor, 
with  a  perfect  appreciation  of  the  higher  ethics  of  life;  is  a 
g(jod  citizen,  prominent  in  society  and  is  a  staunch  and  loyal 
friend. 


COLIN  MACKHXZli:. 


CllAkLES     \V.  STKAUB. 


1 1  I  S  T  n  R       o  I-    M  ( )  I  •  N  T    \'  Iv  R  X  ( )  X 


93 


HON.  SVI)Ni:V  ALL1:N  SVMI:,  attorney  at  law,  I.vuas 
huildiiifT,  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  July  1(>,  His 
mother  was  an  Allen  and  came  of  an  old  New  Orleans  family 
of  that  name;  his  grandfather  was  Dr.  James  Synie,  of  Scot- 
land, ])hysician  to  the  late  (Jiieen  X'ictoria,  and  his  jjrand- 
mother,  a  Cooikt,  was  the  L;rand-(lauL;hler  of  the  illustrious 


HON.  s\iim;v  ai.i.kn  s\mi;. 

James  Feniniore  Coojjer.  Mr.  Syine  attended  the  schools  at 
New  Orleans,  and  at  twelve  years  of  age  he  came  north  and 
finished  his  preparatory  education  at  the  Barnard  Military 
School  in  New  York,  then  graduated  at  Princeton  College, 
class  of '95;  afterward  attended  the  New  York  Law  School, 
graduating  in  1S97  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws,  and 
in  1S98  he  took  a  post-graduate  course,  receiving  the  degree 
of  .Master  of  Laws.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  .\pril  of 
the  same  year  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York  City  in  co-partnership  with  Senator  Russell.  He  moved 
to  Mount  Yernon  and  is  now  practising  his  profession  in 
this  city.  In  November,  1902,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  notwithstanding  the  almost 
general  triuniiih  of  the  ]\c])ublican  ticket  at  that  time.  In 
January,  1903,  he  was  appointed  Acting  City  J  udge  of  Mount 
Vernon.  .Mr.  Svme  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension 
(Protestant  Episcopal),  of  the  Westchester  County  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, Siwanoy  Country  Chili,  Westchester  County  Wheel- 
men, Mount  Vernon  Turn  \erein,  Ko^-al  .Arcanum,  Hiawatha 
Lodge  No.  4-3-t,  F.  &  A.  M.,  Wausegan  f-ncampment  No.  1,  O. 
I).  O.,  and  has  been,  secretary  of  the  Democratic  City  Com- 
mittee of  Mount  Vernon  for  the  last  four  years.  Mr.  Synic 
was  married  in  1895  to  Neva  \'.  Lary,  of  New  York  City. 
He  does  general  civil  jiracticc  of  law  and  has  ac(]uired  a  large 
clientele.  Personally  he  is  very  jiojiular  and  a  liright  future 
awaits  him. 

ELMRK  PLATT  S.MITII,  attorney  and  counselor  at 
law,   with  offices  at   4-5   Broadway,   New    York   City,  w.is 


1)orn  at  Rocky  Point,  on  the  north  shore  of  Long  Island, 
in  18(55.  When  he  was  about  ten  years  of  age  his  parents 
moved  to  Port  Jetferson,  at  that  time  a  noted  shipbuilding 
town.  His  father,  Brewster  P.  Smith,  was  a  sea  captain,  and 
while  a  young  boy,  Mr.  Smith  spent  much  of  his  time  on  the 
sea.  After  finishing  the  public  school,  he  went  on  the  water 
for  a  time,  and  then  attended  Williston  Seminary,  liasthani])- 
ton  Mass.,  where  he  pre])ared  for  college.  He  was  graduated 
by  Amherst  College  in  the  class  of '92  with  the  degree  of  K. 
S.  In  order  to  secure  the  benefits  of  a  higher  education  he 
was  obliged  "to  work  his  way"  through  college.  He  was 
active  in  athletics,  esiK'cially  footliall.  He  is  a  member  ot 
the  Greek  Letter  Fraternity,  Theta  Delta  Chi.  He  represented 
his  class  in  the  College  Senate,  and  also  as  its  church  com- 
mitteeman throughout  his  course.  While  there  he  joined  the 
"Student  Slum  .Movement,"  spending  his  vacaticni  in  the 
rescue  work  and  studying  the  social  needs  and  conditions 
of  the  so-called  "slums"  of  our  great  city.  After  receiving 
the  degree  of  LL.B.  from  I'nion  I'niversity  Law  School  at 
Alliany  he  came  to  New  York  and  in  1 S9 1-  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  During  the  following  year  he  came  to  Mount  \'ernon 
and  has  since  that  time  resided  here.  He  has  been  engaged 
in  the  general  ])ractice  of  law,  including  admiralty,  and  has 
steadily  gained  for  himself  a  good  jiractice  and  the  high 
respect  of  both  the  bench  and  bar,  as  well  as  the  esteem  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  been  thrown  in  contact.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Westchester  County  Bar  Association,  the  First 
M.  R.  Church,  Hiawatha  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M.,  Mount  Vernon 


i:i.mi;k   ri..\  i  i    smi  i  u 

Chapter  K.  .\.  M.,  Bethlehem  Commandery  K.  T.,  and  the 
Mvstic  Shrine,  and  Koyal  .\rcanum.  Mr.  Smith  was  married 
at  Port  Jellerson,  in  1895,  to  Miss  Sara  K.  Terry,  daughter 
of  (iriflin  Terry,  deceased.  He  has  two  children,  Elmer  (lillam, 
born  in  1897,  and  Ivdna  B..  born  in  19()0.    Mr.  Smith  is  j-vcr- 


City 


H 


City  Hall,  Lucas 
Common  Council 
all.  Kncas  lUiildinj;. 


Building 
Chamber 
from   First  Street 


CI.ARHNCI-:    S.  McCI.i;i,I.AN 


JAMES  L.  REYNOLDS. 


II  I  S  '1'  ( )  K  \-    ( )  I-    M  ()  n  X  T    \'  H  R  X  (  )  X 


97 


so  nail  \' a  f^eiiial,  whole-souled  man  of  cxcni])larv  virtues.  lie 
is  a  true  and  valued  friend,  one  prompt  and  reliable  in  his 
business  relations. 

D.W'II)  SWITS,  of  .Mount  \'ernon,  former  eorporation 
eounsel  of  that  citv  was  born  in  Seheneetady,  X.  V.,  I'ebru- 
ary  IS,  1<S()3.  His  ancestors  cnii<»-rated  to  the  United  States 
from  Holland  and  were  anionj;  the  early  settlers  of  the  ISth 
century  in  Schenectady.  His  father  was  David  Swits  of  the 
old  Ivaton  &  ('Filbi'rt  Car  .Manufacturinjj  Company  of  Tro_v, 
X.  V.  He  died  in  ISSS.  His  mother's  name  was  Harriet 
Hoyt.  Mr.  Swits  is  directly  descended  from  an  old  Westchester 
County  family,  which  came  from  Connecticut  soon  aiter  the 
Revolution,  lon<;  resident  in  the  town  of  Lewiston,  and  is 
still  represented  in  the  county  by  numerous  collateral  branches. 
Mr.  Swits  received  his  education  in  the  jjublic  schools  and 
graduated   from    the  seminary  at  Canaan,  Coini.,  in  issl. 


D.wiD  swns. 

He  llien  went  to  Xew  York  City  and  entered  Columbia  Col- 
lege Law  School  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Laws  in  ISS-t.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  just  after  the 
completion  of  his  21st  year.  In  ISSo  he  removed  to  .Mount 
X'ernon  and  formed  the  law  co-partnership  of  Lawler  & 
Sv\Tts.  This  firm  was  dissolved  in  18S9  and  Mr.  Swits  has 
since  practiced  alone.  He  enjoys  a  well  earned  reput.'ition 
for  ability  and  success  at  the  Westchester  bar  and  is  held 
in  high  esteem.  In  1893  he  was  ajjpointed  by  .Mayor  Brush, 
corporation  counsel  of  .Mount  X'ernon.  In  this  important 
official  position  he  served  with  great  credit  and  ethciency  for 
five  3'ears.  His  political  affiliation  has  always  been  with  the 
Republican  part}'  and  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to  the 
party  conventions.  Mr.  Swits  is  one  of  the  board  of  governors 
of  the  City  Club  of  Mount  Vernon,  is  a  member  of  the  Forest- 
ers, ()dd  Fellows,  the  Westchester  Bar  Association,  the  Xew 
York   I^'ague  of  Republican  Clubs,  and  the  .Mount  X'ernon 


Cycle  Clul).  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church.  He  was  married  to  Hester  A.  Oakley,  daughter  of 
the  laic  Thomas  Oakley,  of. Mount  \'ernon.  The}'  have  a  high 
social  position  in  the  community. 

STlU'HlvX  J.  STILWIiLL  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Von- 
kers,  X.  Y.,  on  the  10th  day  of  .May,  ISGO;  his  mother  still 
occupies  the  old  homestea<l.  He  is  descended  on  both  sides 
from  illustrious  Revolution;iry  stock.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools  at  and  near  Yonkers,  and  when 
thirteen  years  of  age  becaiiie  a  clerk  in  a  real  estate  office  in 
.Mount  X'ernon  and  l.'iter  went  on  the  road  as  a  harness  sales- 
man, but  his  ambitious  tendency  w<-is  ;dw£iys  toward  the  j)ro- 
fession  of  law.  He  began  the  study  (jf  law  with  the  firm  of 
\'an  Dusen  and  Taylor,  ])rominent  attorneys  of  Xew  York 
City,  and  entered  the  Xew  \'ork  I'nivcrsity  L;iw  School,  gradu- 
ating in  the  class  of  18S7.  Afterward  he  removed  to  .Mount 
X'ernon  and  began  the  pr;ictice  of  law  in  a  co-partnership 
with  Jared  Sanford,  at  that  time  president  of  the  village, 
but  has  pr.'icticed  alone  since  1891,  and  now  h.'is  pleasant 
offices  in  the  Chronicle  building,  Xo.  25  South  Fourth  avenue. 
.Mr.  Stilwell  is  widely  known  in  the  jjrofession;  he  is  both 
counsellor  and  advocate  and  has  had  many  cases  of  more 
or  less  ini])orlance,  in  which  he  has  met  with  marked  success. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  .Masonic  Order,  the  Foresters,  the 
Knights  of  St.  John  and  Malta,  Tammany  Societ\'  of  Xew 
York  City,  City  Club  of  .Mount  Vernon,  and  the  Chippewa 
Club  of  Westchester.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  j)olitics,  but  has 
never  held  office,  having  no  leaning  tf  uard  ])olitical  prefer- 
ment; he  is  one  of  the  stewards  and  trustees  of  Olin  .M.  E. 
Church  of  Willianisbridge.  He  was  married  in  February, 
18S7,  to  .Miss  Celia  A.  Blanck,  of  Xew  York;  they  have  two 
children,  Eugenia  B.,  and  Edna.  Mr.  Stilwell,  in  his  practice, 
is  painstaking  and  laborious  in  obtaining  fully  the  facts  from 
his  clients,  and  untiring  in  his  effi)rts  to  look  up  the  law 
with  determination  to  state  his  cases  in  clear  Jirgument  to 
the  judge  and  jury.  He  works  with  ingenuity  and  energy  and 
his  motto  is  "Xever  Say  Die."  He  is  an  extremely  affable 
and  courteous  gentleman,  is  highl_v  esteemed,  honorable  and 
uj)right  in  all  things,  with  a  genuine  kindliness  of  heart,  and 
is  most  ])o]^ular  not  only  with  his  colleagues,  but  with  the 
community  at  large. 

COL.  lIlvXRY  IirSS,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  .Mount 
Vernon,  was  born  at  Furth,  Bavaria,  (>ermany,  on  the  ^18th 
day  of  February,  IS-tl.  He  is  descended  from  one  of  the 
oldest  families  in  Germany  and  traces  his  genealogy  through 
three  branches  of  the  family  from  the  years  1370,  1373  and 
1382  to  184-1.  His  father,  Anthony  Henry  IIu.ss,  came  to 
Xew  York  in  18-4-(!,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  boy, 
and  then  removed  to  Bridgeport,  Conn.  Colonel  IIuss  located 
at  Mount  \'ernon  in  18(57  and  he  has  resided  here  ever  since. 
He  was  President  of  the  village  in  18S0  and  1881,  having 
been  previoush'  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  village  for  several 
3'ears.  He  was  President  of  Mount  \'ernon  Hospital  five 
years  and  one  of  its  founders,  and  afterward  elected  an  Honor- 
ary Member  of  the  same  for  life.  He  was  one  of  the  Super- 
visors of  the  town  of  Eastchester  and,  while  acting  in  that 
capacity,  made  the  office  self-sustaining,  and  he  was  appointed 
Postmaster  of  the  citv  of  Mount  X'ernon  by  President  Har- 
rison in  1888  and  conducted  the  office  with  marvellous  success. 
The  receipts  of  the  office  for  the  first  year  of  his  occupancy 
were  $21,000,  the  second  year,  $27,000,  the  third  year,  over 
$4-0,000,  at  which  time  it  was  ]iromoted  to  the  rank  of  a 
first-class  office;  the  fi)urth  year,  under  his  administration, 
the  net  ]>rofit  to  the  I'.  S.  ('.overnment  was  $3(>,000.  The 
percentage  of  expense  was  27  and  the  percentage  of  profit 


98 


HISTORY    OF    M  O  IT  XT    \'  E  R  N  O  N 


73,  and  it  made  the  best  showng  of  any  post-office  of  the 
same  class  in  the  State  of  New  York,  thus  making  an  excep- 
tionally good  record.  Col.  Huss  has  also  been  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trade  and  has  been  closely  identified  with  near- 
ly- everv  movement  for  the  benefit  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resides.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier  of  the  Civil  War,  having 
enlisted  in  the  17th  Regiment  of  Connecticut,  commanded  by 
Col.  W.  H.  Noble.  He  was  an  officer  at  various  periods  of 
his  military  career  on  the  staffs  of  Generals  Jno.  F.  Hart- 


cou.   HHXRV  iirss. 

vanft,  of  Penna. ;  Jno.  C,  Robinson,  of  N  Y.  ;  Adams,  of 
Mass.;  Lawler,  of  III.,  and  Warner,  of  Penna.'  and  leceived 
by  letter  and  orally  from  each  much  commendation  for  his 
meritorious  conduct.  He  fought  with  great  gallantry  in  the 
battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Fredericksburg  and  was  a  par- 
ticipant in  the  battles  of  Forts  Wagner  and  Sumpter,  S.  C, 
and  in  the  Florida  campaign.  He  was  First  Lieutenant  of 
Company  B,  3d  Regiment,  oi'  Westchester  County,  under 
Col.  John  G.  Fay,  promoted  to  Captaincy  and  subsequently 
promoted  to  the  Lieutenant-Colonelcy  27th  Regiment,  N.  G., 
S.  N.  Y.  He  was  on  the  F~ifth  Division  Staff,  commanded 
by  Major-General  James  W.  Husted.  On  the  disbanding  of 
the  division,  the  staff  was  rendered  supernumerary  and  Col. 
Huss  reports  annually  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State 
as  Chief  of  Ordnance.  He  is  Commander  of  the  William  T. 
-Minor  Post  No.  85,  Department  of  Conn.  G.  A.  R.  He  was 
offered  from  the  authorities  at  Washington  an  appointment 
of  Colonel  of  the  Westchester  County  Volunteer  Regiment 
during  the  late  war  with  Spain,  which,  for  personal  reasons, 
he  was  obliged  to  decline.  He  was  the  prime  mover  in  the 
erection  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  located  on  the  square  at 
the  intersection  of  Valentine  and  Seventh  avenues,  which  was 
dedicated  on  Memorial  Day,  1891,  with  great  ceremony  and 
eclat.  He  was  married  on  the  12th  day  of  December,  1860, 
to  Miss  Mary  B.  Busch,  of  New  York,  a  very  exemiilary  and 


accomplished  lady;  they  have  five  children:  Wni.  II.,  Laura 
E.,  \Yeimar,  Max  F.,  Henrietta  Bang,  and  Henrj',  Jr.  Col. 
Huss  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  in  New  York 
City  and  devotes  his  attention  thereto.  He  is  an  upright 
man,  a  good  counsellor  and  a  worthy  citizen  and  has  the 
entire  confidence  of  the  comniunitv. 

DANIEL  LEWIS  is  the  son  of  Andrew  D.  Lewis,  of  Mam- 
aroneck,  and  Emily  Devoe,  of  Greenburgh,  Westchester  Countv, 
and  the  date  of  his  birth  was  January  15,  18-1-6.  He  attended 
the  district  schools  at  Yonkers ;  he  did  not  graduate,  but 
commenced  work  as  a  boy  of  nine  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
painter  and  decorator  until  1873,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
in  the  printing  and  stationery  business.  He  has  been  for 
thirty-two  years  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon.  He  belongs  to 
the  Republican  party  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs. 
He  was  Supervisor  in  the  Second  Ward  of  Mount  Vernon  in 
1895,  by  appointment  under  Mayor  Edson  Lewis;  he  was 
elected  in  1896  for  the  full  term  of  two  years  and  refused  a 
renomination.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Republican  Club  of 
Mount  Vernon,  and  an  attendant  of  the  First  Methodist 
Church,  is  a  member  of  all  the  Masonic  fraternities,  from 
Blue  Lodge  to  Mystic  Shrine,  and  honored  by  election  to  the 
highest  offices  in  several  of  them.  He  was  married  on  May 
1,  1869,  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Brown,  who  died,  and  on  June  6, 
1894-,  he  was  married  again  and  to  Miss  Hattie  L.  Craft;  they 
h  ive  one  child,  Gladys.    Mr.  Lewis  is  an  honored  citizen  of 


DANIBL  LEWIS. 

Mount  Vernon,  and  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the 
affairs  of  the  city  and  his  opinions  are  invariably  held  in 
respect.  He  is  honest  and  upright  in  all  his  transactions. 
He  is  a  progressive  business  man  and  has  the  high  esteem  of 
every  one. 

STEPHEN  VAN  TASSEL  is  a  native  of  White  Plains, 
where  he  was  born  June  13,  1864,  the  son  of  Bruce  \'an  Tas- 


si'i:iMii-:x  j.  sTii.\vi-i,L. 


Residence  of  Mayor  HrUvin  W.  Fiske. 


HISTORY  or 


M  O  r  N  T    V  E  R  X  O  N 


101 


sel,  a  mason  and  huilikr.  He  rctci vid  his  education  al  the 
county  scat.  He  is  descended  from  one  ot  the  oldest  families 
in  Westchester  County  and  those  who  have  read  W'asliin^^ton 
Irvinji's  "  Lef^cnd  of  Slcc])y  Hollow,"  will  rei'all  the  \  ;in  Tas- 
sel name.  His  first  enij)loyment  was  that  of'a  messen;.;er  hoy, 
then  became  a  tclcj^raph  operator  and  afterward  made  as- 
sistant station  a^ent  al  W'oodlawn  junction.  Later  he  was 
selected,  hccatisc  of  his  exiierl  knowledge,  to  inauf;urate 
the  famous  Sykes  Interlocking;  Block  System  on  this  division 
of  the  Xew  York  Central  Railroad.  In  1  ss,')  Mr.  \'an  Tassel 
was  promoted  to  the  ])osition  of  Assistant  Stiition  Master  at 
White  Plains.  In  1SS7  he  was  ajjjiointed  a^ent  of  the  New 
York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad  at  .Mount  X'ernon. 
In  this  resijonsihle  jiosition  he  has  always  j^iven  eminent 
satisfaction  to  p.-itrons  and  employers  alike.  In  June,  IS'.x;, 
.Mayor  lidwin  W.  Fiske  a])i)ointed  .Mr.  \'an  Tassel  a  Police 
Commissioner  and  in  attending  to  the  duties  of  that  oliice  he 


sTi:rin:\   \'an  iassi:!,. 

made  an  enviable  record.  In  Ma^-,  1S9S,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of"  the  Board  of  Supervisors  from  the  Second  Ward 
of  .Mount  \'ernon.  In  lUOO  he  was  again  elected  with  the 
support  and  ajjproval  of  both  political  parties.  On  the  (iood 
Roads  Committee  he  was  especialh-  active  and  he  jjave  much 
satisfaction.  He  was  selected  to  serve  as  Secretary  to  one  of 
the  foreuujst  committees  £it  the  last  State  Convention  of  Ciood 
Roads  held  at  Albany-,  N.  Y.  The  record  is  that  .Mr.  \'an  Tas- 
s  1  has  always  been  a  hard-working,  j)ainstaking  public  ser- 
vant. He  is  clean,  honorable  and  competent,  and  this  applies 
to  ever\'  position  he  has  held.  He  was  married  October  12, 
189G,  to  .Mary  Alice  Miller,  daughter  of  E.\- Register  josejih 
O.  .Miller,  of  -Mount  Kisco.  They  have  had  three  children : 
S.  Rollin  (deceased),  Joseph  O.  M.,  and  Zillah.  .Mr.  \'au 
Tassel  stands  high  socially,  is  a  staunch  Democrat  and  is 
Chairman  of  the  City  Democratic  Committee.  He  is  Regent 
of  Golden  Rod  Ci)uncil,  Royal  Arcanum;  a  mendjcr  of  the 


.Mount  \ernon  Turn  \  erein,  the  City  Club,  and  belongs  to  th<^ 
first  Iv.  Church.  .Mr.  \'an  Tassel  is  a  man  of  pure  life, 
very  popular  and  has  an  extensive  ac(juaintance.  He  jxjssesscs 
a  fine  ])hysi(iue,  is  afl'able,  courteous  and  genial  in  manner 
and  is  a  great  favorite  in  all  circles.  The  success  he  has 
achieved  in  lite-  is  certainly  well  deserved. 

|.\.Mi:S  L.  RIvV.NOLDS  was  Ixjrn  in  Greenwich,  Conn., 
and  educated  in  the  .public  schools  there.  He  is  a  merchant, 
engaged  in  general  marketing,  witli  stores  at  120  and  128 
South  I'ourth  avenue,  .Mount  X'ernon;  274-  -Main  street,  New 
Rochelle;  .It  Railroad  avenue  and  another  at  107  and  lO'J 
Railroad  avenue.  White  Plains,  .N.  V.  He  started  business  in 
.Mount  \ernon  in  1.S7S,  in  New  Rochelle  in  1885,  and  in 
White  Plains  in  188<J  and  enjoys  a  large  and  growing  trade 
in  each  place.  .Mr.  Reynolds  is  ;i  self-reliant  man  and  has 
been  his  own  architect  of  his  successful  career.  With  little  or 
no  capital  he  stiirted  in  business  and  by  his  industry,  energy- 
and  ability  succeeded  in  gaining  the  front  rank  among  the 
liest-known  merchants  in  Westchester  County.  He  lives  in  a 
well-appointed  residence  in  .New  Rochelle  with  cajiacious 
grounds  beautified  by  nature  and  art,  where  he  dispenses 
hospitality  with  a  bountiful  hand.  In  all  his  dealings  he 
displ.iys  strict  integrit3'  and  honesty:  enjoys  a  reputable 
character  and  never  forgets  to  be  a  courteous  and  conser- 
vative gentleman. 

COLIN  -M.YCKlvNZIE  was  born  at  Scarsboro,  Canada, 
Mav  14-,  1S4-S.  He  is  of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  He  is  an  architect,  was  formerly  a 
l)uil(ler  and  carpenter  for  seventeen  years.  He  is  now  Receiver 
of  Taxes  tor  the  city  of  .Mount  X'ernon,  where  he  has  resided 
for  thirty-three  years,  to  which  oflice  he  was  elected  in  I'JOl, 
to  serve  until  November,  1903.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  party  and  the 
community  at  large.  On  December  17,  1871,  he  was  married 
to  .Miss  Margaret  .\itken,  of  Mount  \"ernon,  Mr.  MacKenzie 
is  a  (piiet,  unpretending  citizen,  without  a  flaw  in  his  charac- 
ter or  a  spot  upon  his  reputation.  He  is  true  to  his  friends 
and  steadfast  iind  courageous  in  the  ])erformance  of  his  duties. 

CHARLLS  WILLIAM  STRAUB,  City  Treasurer,  is  a 
native  of  .Mount  \'ernon  and  was  born  December  G,  1857. 
He  attended  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  lie 
was  with  R.  H.  Mac\-  &  Co.,  the  well-known  merchants  of 
Xew  York,  and  afterward  with  Carjienter  &  Petiengill^  coal 
dealers,  for  seventeen  years.  He  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 
ness as  grocer  at  11-t  West  Lincoln  venue.  Mount  X'ernon, 
June  1,  1898.  He  was  elected  City  Treasurer  in  1901.  He 
is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  4-th  Ward  Republican 
Association,  and  was  for  three  terms  a  member  of  the  Re- 
I)id)lican  City  Committee  and  has  been  an  active  and  stead- 
fast adherent  of  his  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chester 
Hill  .M.  Iv.  Church.  He  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Oakley, 
daughter  of  the  late  Thomas  Oakley.  Mr.  Straub  is  a  capable 
and  good  business  man,  self-reliant  and  enteriirising,  and  has 
achieved  a  high  degree  of  success.  He  is  kind,  unafl'ected  and 
ap])roachable  and  every  one,  receives  his  courteous  attention. 

M.VRK  D.  STILIiS,  though  not  "to  the  manner  born," 
came  to  Mount  X'ernon  twenty-two  years  ago,  and,  with  an 
intermission  of  six  years,  has  lived  here  continuously  since. 
His  paternal  ancestry  include  jiarticipanls  in  the  Revc)lu- 
tionary  War,  the  W;ir  of  1812,  and  the  Civil  War,  in  addition 
to  those  active  in  the  church,  at  the  bar  and  in  public  coun- 
cils; while  his  mother  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Jt)hn  Han- 
cock, the  first  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
One  of  his  best  known  forefathers  was  the  Key.  Lzra  Stiles. 


102 


HISTORY    OF    M  O  U  X  T  VERNON 


D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  was  president  of  Yale  Colleye  from  1772 
until  his  death  in  1795.  Mr.  Stiles  was  born  in  Minnesota 
in  1860.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War,  in  1863,  he  was  taken  to  Vermont,  where  he  passed  his 
3'outhful  da3-s  on  a  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools.  In  1876  he  became  a  student  at  the  Academy 
of  Design  in  New  York  City,  where  he  received  honorable 
mention  in  the  class  of  '77-' 78,  besides  exhibiting  for  several 
years  in  the  Academy  exhibitions.  In  1890  he  engaged  in 
the  business  of  publishing  art  works,  and  in  the  manufacture 
of  art  goods  and  novelties.  The  Ullman  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  which  Mr.  Stiles  is  vice-president  and  a  director,  is 
a  successful  organization  with  about  four  hundred  employees  ; 
indeed,  it  is  probably  the  largest  concern  ot  its  kind  in  this 
country.  Mr.  Stiles  is  an  esteemed  citizen,  active  in  promot- 
ing the  best  interests  of  the  community.  He  is  a  deacon 
and  trustee  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum,  of  Hiawitha  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the 
Siwanoy  Country  Club,  of  the  Republican  Club,  and  an  asso- 
ciate member  of  Farnsworth  Post,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  one  of 
the  proprietors,  and  has  editorial  direction  of  the  Daily  Argus, 
a  l(jcal  newspaper  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He 
is  also  a  director  in  the  Bank  of  Mount  \'ernon,  and  one  of 
the  incorporators  of  the  Mount  \'ernon  Trust  ComjDany, 
besides  being,  as  he  has  been  for  three  years,  chairman  of  the 
Republican  City  Committee.  Mr.  Stiles  is  public-spirittd 
liberal  and  broad-minded ;  he  believes  the  creed  of  his  partj' 
and,  believing  it,  defends  it  manfulh'  and  has  the  courage  of 
his  convictions.  Any  course  he  may  pursue  in  relation  to 
public  affairs,  one  may  be  quite  sure  is  dictated  hy  conscien- 
tious motives.  Mr.  Stiles'  home  on  Primrose  avenue  is  a 
unique  and  striking  example  of  picturesque  architecture,  and 
there  he  and  his  charming  wife  are  frequenth'  hospitable  hosts 
to  delighted  guests. 

FRANKLIN  ASBURY  MERKIAM  was  Ix.rn  June  7ili.  1807 
at  Aurora,  Ills.  His  ancestors  were  am :)ng  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  State  of  C(jnnecticut,  being  recorded  as  land  own- 
ers in  that  state  as  early  as  1640.  During  the  American  Re- 
volution they  took  a  ver}'  active  part  on  the  side  of  the 
colonies,  eight  of  them  serving  in  the  Continental  Army. 
Early  in  life  his  parents  moved  to  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and 
subsequently  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  v^'here  he  received  his  education. 
Shortly  after  attaining  his  majority,  he  entered  the  printing 
and  publishing  business  and  up  to  1888  was  connected  with 
the  Ithaca  (N.  Y.)  Daily  J(jurnal.  In  that  year  his  health 
failed  and  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  active  business.  In 
1891  on  regaining  his  health  in  a  measure,  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  Daily  Argus  of  Mount  \'ernon,  N.  Y.  as  General 
Superintendent.  In  the  Pall  of  1897  he  purchased  the  interest 
of  Henry  O.  Sniffen  in  the  Argus  and  assumed  the  business 
management  of  the  paper.  Under  his  energetic,  but  conservative 
direction  the  paper  was  placed  on  a  firm  financial  basis  and 
has  become  one  of  the  leading  Journals  of  Westchester  Countv. 
Mr.  Merriam  has  resided  in  Mount  Vernon  for  fifteen  years;  is 
a  Republican  in  politics  and  is  one  of  the  Charter  Members  of 
the  Republican  Club  of  Mount  Vernon;  he  is  also  Treasurer  of 
The  Westchester  County  Press  Association  and  an  attendant 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  On  February  6th,  1891 
lie  married  Eva  Belle  Sickels  of  Newark,  N.  J.;  they  have  one 
daughter,  Ethel  Carolyn  B.  Mr.  Merriam  is  the  oldest  jour- 
nalist in  Mount  Vernon,  thoroughly  understands  his  business 
and  is  capable  and  energetic  in  his  business  methods,  he  is  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  irreproachable  character  and  is 
one  of  the  most  respected  citizens  of  Mount  Vernon. 

COL.  CORNELIUS  McLEAN,  of  Mount  Vernon,  was  born 
in  New  Y'ork  City,  June  10,  1841.    His  ancestry  is  old  and 


distinguished.  He  is  one  of  the  descendants  of  William 
McLean,  of  .McLean  Island,  Stamford,  Conn.,  who  died  in 
1749.  He  is  also  descended  from  James  Hammond,  a  native 
of  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  who  was  commissioned  Lieut. - 
Colonel  of  the  1st  Regiment  of  that  county  militia,  October 
19,  1775,  and  re-appointed  to  that  position  June  16,  1778. 
Col.  McLean  is  the  grandson  of  Cornelius  McLean  and  Han- 
nah Hammond;  great  grandson  of  James  Hammond,  and 
son  of  James  Monroe  McLean,  former  President  of  the  Man- 
hattan Life  Insurance  Company,  of  New  York,  first  \'ice-Presi- 
dent  of  the  Union  Trust  Company  and  connected  as  director 
or  otherwise  with  many  large  financial  institutions.  He  died 
May  13,  1890,  universally  mourned  and  respected.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  grammar 
school  of  New  York.  He  is  Commander  of  the  John  A. 
Rawlin's  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  No.  80,  department  of  New  York; 
Captain  on  the  Honorary  Staff  of  the  Old  Guard  of  New 
York;  life  member  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  member  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  of  Boston,  Mass.  He 
was  Lieutenant  of  the  42d  New  Y'ork  Volunteers;  private.  Ser- 
geant and  Lieutenant  in  command  of  a  company  in  39th  New 
York  Volunteers;  Lieut. -Colonel  on  the  Staff  of  Governor 
Stoaeman,  of  California  ;  Lieut. -Colonel  on  Department  Staff, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  New  York,  under  Commander  .Ytkinson,  and  rank 
(jf  Colonel  on  National  Staff,  G.  A.  R.,  1896-97.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Sagamore  Club  of  New  York  and  of  the  Indian 
Harbor  Yacht  Club.  He  was  married  to  Rebecca  Hyslop,  of 
New  York,  who  died  in  1880,  and  was  married  again  in 
1883  to  Leslie  A.  Eagar,  an  accomplished  lady  of  beautiful 
characteristics,  devoted  to  works  of  charity  and  benevolence, 
and  to  all  that  is  conducive  to  the  amelioration  and  benefit 
of  mankind.  Col.  McLean  served  his  country  v\nth  fidelity  in 
the  Civil  War,  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  was 
engaged  in  many  of  the  conflicts  in  which  that  grand  mi- 
litary organization  participated.  He  has  retired  from  bus- 
iness, is  fond  of  athletic  sports,  and  is  particularly  devoted 
to  yachting.  He  lives  in  a  fine  residence  in  Mount  Vernon 
and  is  surrounded  with  every  comfort.  He  is  a  gentleman  of 
the  old  school — physically  a  man  of  fine  stature  and  presence. 
He  is  genial,  refined  and  hospitable  and  possesses  those 
fe  atures  of  heart  and  mind  which  endear  him  to  his  fiiends 
and  to  those  who  know  him  well  and  intimately. 

WILLIAM  H.  MENDEL  was  born  in  New  York  City  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, although  not  active.  He  was  ticket  agent  at  the  Grand 
Central  Railroad  Station,  New  York  City,  for  twenty  years, 
and  fifteen  years  ago  succeeded  his  father  in  the  package 
department  at  the  same  station,  which  business  he  is  now 
conducting  with  great  success.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
lunch  room,  as  well  as  the  fruit,  candy  and  flower  stands  at 
the  Grand  Central  Station  he  is  also  proprietor  of  a  bakery 
at  No.  5  Vanderbilt  avenue,  opposite,  and  of  a  confectionery 
store  at  No.  51  East  42d  street.  All  of  these  enterprises 
receive  much  of  Mr.  Mendel's  personal  attention  and  are 
under  his  immediate  direction.  Mr.  Mendel  has  resided  in 
Mount  Vernon  for  the  past  ten  years;  he  is  one  of  the  owners 
of  the  New  York  Infant  Asylum  property  in  the  suburbs, 
which  is  to  be  developed  in  the  summer  of  1903,  and  he  is 
also  interested  in  the  Alameda  Park  Tract  lying  in  the  out- 
skirts of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Siwanoy  Country 
Club  of  Mount  Vernon,  and  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension 
(Episcopal).  Mr.  Mendel  is  married  and  his  wife  is  quite 
active  in  the  afi^airs  of  the  Westchester  Woman's  Club  of 
Mount  Vernon.  Their  residence  at  No.  145  Summit  avenue 
is  very  commodious  and  handsome.  He  is  a  successful  busi- 
ness man  and  a  pubhc-spirited  citizen. 


FRAXKLIX  A.  .Ml-RKIA.M. 


GEORGE  C.  WEISS,  M.  D. 


HISTORY    OF    MOT  XT    \' E  U  X  O  \ 


105 


ADOLPII  WILLIAM  WALI.AXDI-R  was  horn  in  Swcdiii, 
Mav  7,  1854-,  and  cniij^rau-tl  In  the  l  iiiled  Slates.  He  it- 
tcived  his  education  in  the  pul)lic  schools  of  his  native  eoun- 
trv.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Mount  \'ernon  sixteen  years. 
He  is  a  Kepui)lican  in  politics;  was  ai)])ointed  hy  Mayor 
lirush   as    I'ire  Commissioner  in  IS'll-  and  re-.-ipi)i)inle(l  hy 


ADOLl'lI  Wll.l.IAM  WAI.I.AXllIvK. 

Mavor  Lewis  in  IS'JG.  He  was  elected  Alderman  of  the  Fifth 
Ward  of  the  cit3'  in  1.SU7  and  served  the  regular  term  of  two 
years;  was  re-elected  Alderman  for  the  short  term  in  TJOl. 
and  again  elected  for  the  regular  term  in  1902  to  serve  until 
Novemher  15,  1904-.  He  is  a  member  of  the  City  Club  of 
Mount  \'ernon  and  also  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the 
Ascension  (Protestant-Episcopal).  He  was  married  in  ISTa 
in  San  Francisco,  California,  to  Miss  Amanda  Christina  Lun- 
nell.  They  have  five  children,  four  daughters  and  one  son. 
Mr.  Wallander  is  a  very  prominent  merchant  tailor  with  an 
elegant  store  on  5th  Avenue,  New  York  City,  near  the  I'nior. 
League  Club;  his  customers  are  of  the  best  character  and  he 
does  an  extensive  trade,  both  domestic  and  foreign.  He  is 
devoted  to  his  business,  but  finds  time  to  closely  identify 
himself  with  all  jilans  for  the  social,  moral  and  financial 
elevation  of  the  comnmnity  in  which  he  lives.  He  is  a  gentle- 
man of  good  business  ability,  shrewd  common  sense  and 
stands  deservedly  high  among  his  fellow-citizens. 

GEORGE  W.  BARD  was  born  in  Mount  Vernon  July  22, 
1861.  He  entered  the  public  schools  and  graduated  in  the 
High  school  in  1877.  From  1879  to  1881,  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  the  real  estate,  auctioneering  and  insurance  busi- 
ness, in  Mount  Vernon.  In  1881,  he  entered  into  the  high- 
grade  advertising  business,  traveling  throughout  the  I  nited 
States  and  Canada.  In  1884,  he  was  appointed  special  agent 
and  inspector  for  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of 
New  York;  his  duties  were  very  responsible  and  required 
great  tact  and  discretion  in  their  administration;  he  developed 
into  a  prominent  insurance  adjustor  and  his  services  have 
frequently  been  called  upon  in  difficult  insurance  appraise- 
ments. In  1889,  he  returned  to  Mount  Vernon,  when  a  boom 
in  real  estate  was  pending  and  he  planned  and  executed  many 
methods  of  advertising,  whereby  the  city  and  its  advantages 
became  widely  known,   and  it  largely  owes  its  remarkable 


development  and  progress  to  the  clforls,  sagacity  and  pre- 
science ot'  this  gentleman.  Ivvcrything  that  would  materially 
aid  in  the  promotion  of  enler])rise  and  advantage  for  the 
public  good  was  advocated  by  him,  antl  his  untiring  activity 
achieved  much  renown  for  the  city,  and  his  name  and  rejju- 
lation  have  been  eontenqioraneous  with  its  remarkjible growth. 
Mr.  Bard  is  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics,  a  prominent 
Mason,  Knight  Tcnq)lar  and  Shriner.  He  is  thoroughly  in 
touih  with  the  subject  of  masonry  ;ind  has  been  the  reci|)icnt 
of  many  ined.'ils  and  honors,  and  tokens  of  ihe  highest  esteem. 
He  is  a  member  of  ihe  Rei)uhlican  Club  of  .Mount  X'eriion  ai.d 
the  Royal  .\rcanum.  On  October  21,  isss,  Mr.  Bard  w,-;s 
married  to  Madge  M.  Watts  ol'  New  \'ork.  They  have  ihiie 
children,  all  daughters:  Marjorie  .Mai,  Hazel  Lodiee,  and 
Harriet  Beatrice;  the  lauiliy  occupy  a  high  jiosition  in  social 
circles  in  this  cilv.  I'uhlii-spirited  in  a  high  degree,  cng.'iging 
ill  his  ni  inners,  versatile  in  his  liusiiiess  methods.   Mr.  Bard 


has  ever  l)een  loyal  to  his  native  city,  and  it  owes  as  much 
to  him  as  to  any  other  m;in  tor  its  growth  and  stability. 
He  is  still  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  auctioneering  business  in  the  city  of  Mount  \'ernon. 

THEODORE  TAYLOR  was  horn  in  Brooklyn,  N.  V.,  in 
1853.  He  went  to  Mount  \'ernon  with  his  jiarenis  in  IStil, 
and  was  educated  in  the  jniblic  school  of  that  place.  He 
entered  the  hardware  l)usiness  at  an  early  ;ige  in  New  York 
City,  and  after  six  years  became  associated  with  Potticr  and 
Stvmus  Manufacturing  Company,  one  of  the  most  extensive 
furniture  manufacturing  companies  in  the  I'nited  Stales,  with 
whom  he  remained  about  seventeen  years.  Entering  as  stock 
clerk,  he  soon  rose  bv  mpid  ])romoiion  until  he  became  man- 
ager of  the  factory,  and  in  1888  became  secretary  of  the 
conqianv,  which  ]iosition  he  held  until  the  plant  was  dc- 
slroved  by  fire.    He  then  withdrew  from  the  conip.-iny.  In 


lOG 


HISTORY   OF    MOUNT  VERNON 


1886  he  became  interested  in  the  laundry  business  in  Mount 
Vernon,  establishintj  one  of  the  first  laundries  in  Westchester 
Count_v,  which  has  rapidly  grown,  lie  employs  about  ei<fhty 
hands  and  does  the  largest  business  in  that  part  of  New  York. 
I'oliticalh-  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  Republican  He  was  elected  as  one 
of  the  first  aldermen  of  Mount  Vernon  after  its  incorpor- 
ation as  a  city.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Street  Committee, 
and  was  appointed  one  of  the  Civil  Service  Commissioners 
and  helped  to  organize  the  first  Civil  Service  Board  of  the 
city.  In  1S95  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  first  Police  Com 
missioners,  and  was  for  three  years  president  of  the  hoard 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Clinton  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
about  twenty  years,  and  in  1889-90  was  chief  of  the  Fire 
Department.  He  is  a  member  of  Trinity  Episcopal  Church, 
Exempt  F'iremen's  Association,  City  Club,  Kepublican  Club, 
of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees.    He  is  also  a  mendoer  ol 


I 
I 


THEODORE  TAVEOK. 

Hiawatha  Lodge  No.  4-34-,  F.  &  A.  M. ;  Minnehaha  Lodge 
No.  227,  O.  E.  S. ;  Mount  Vernon  Chapter  No.  228,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Phoenix  Council  No.  701,  R.  &  S.  M. ;  Wauregan  Encamp- 
ment, O.  D.  O. ;  Mecca  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. ;  Bethlehem 
Commanderj',  K.  T. ;  and  Royal  Arcanum.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
married  in  1890.  He  has  two  children,  Theodore  Clinton  and 
Herbert  Vernon  Taylor. 

THEODORE  GOULD,  deceased,  was  born  in  Mount  \'er- 
non,  December  12,  1851.  He  was  the  only  son  of  George  and 
Sarah  Gould,  who  emigrated  from  England  to  the  United 
States  and  who  were  among  the  earher  settlers  of  Mount 
Vernon  and  very  prominent  and  distinguished  citizens.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Mount  \'ernon,  and  when  reaching  manhood,  engaged  in  the 
hotel  and  livery  business,  owning  and  conducting  the  Mount 
\'ernon  Hotel,  an  old  and  well-known  hostelry.  He  resided 
in  this  city  until  1884',  when,  on  account  of  impaired  health, 
he  removed  to  Sullivan  Count}',  N.  Y.    In  politics  Mr.  Gould 


was  a  conservative  Democrat.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church,  being  baptized  In'  the  Reverend 
Dr.  Coffee  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Eastchester.  He  took  great 
interest  in  the  fire  department  of  Mount  Vernon  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Clinton  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.    He  was 


Tiii;c  UK  )Ki;  cui  LH. 

married  Sept.  28,  1875,  to  Miss  Louise  S.  Sageman,  of  Mount 
\'ernon,  an  estimable  and  cultured  lady,  whose  ancestors 
were  well  known  and  illustrious  and  among  the  oldest  and 
most  esteemed  residents  of  Westchester  Count}'.  There  were 
born  to  them  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  living:  George 
C.  Gould  and  Lillie  M.  Gould.  Mr.  Gould  died  in  Liberty, 
Sullivan  Count}',  Sept.  28,  1896,  and  was  sincerely  mourned 
by  his  relatives  and  friends.  He  is  buried  in  Woodlawn  Ceme- 
tery. 

HENRY  CARLOS  FORDHAM,  the  founder  and  publisher 
of  the  Movjnt  Vernon  Daily  Eagle,  became  a  resident  of  this 
city  in  June,  1895.  He  resigned  his  position  with  the  Ameri- 
can News  Company,  of  New  York  City,  to  assume  the  posi- 
tion of  reporter  on  a  suburban  weekly,  the  Mount  Vernon 
News,  in  June  of  that  year.  He  did  this  because  he  wanted 
to  learn  the  newspaper  business  thoroughly,  and  recognized 
that  there  was  no  place  in  which  to  do  this  like  the  office  of 
a  weekly  in  the  country  or  suburbs.  Air.  Fordham,  who  was 
born  May  3,  1870,  in  Astoria,  L.  L,  is  the  oldest  son  of  for- 
mer School  Commissioner  Charles  W.  Fordham,  of  Bay  Shore, 
L.  I.,  and  Mrs.  Jennie  Blossom  Fordham,  of  Cleveland,  O. 
After  going  through  the  country  grammar  school,  Mr.  Ford- 
ham entered  a  college  preparatory  school  at  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  and  later  became  a  student  at  Hudson  River  Institute, 
at  Claverack,  N.  Y.  Later,  after  passing  the  entrance  examin- 
ations, he  became  a  member  of  Columbia  LawSchool  under 
Professor  Dwight.  Subsequently  he  became  Long  Island  cor- 
respondent of  the  Brooklyn  Daily  Times,  and  it  was  then 


HISTORY    O  F    M  ()  r  N  T    V  E  R  X  O  X 


109 


ho  made  up  his  niiiul  to  Ijccoinc  a  iic\vs|)a|KT  ])nhlishcr.  Af'lcr 
Mr.  I'ordhain  had  been  reporting  for  the  Mount  X'eriioii  News 
lor  a  lew  months,  Dr.  Edward  P.  Brush  made  him  a  more 
hicratTve  offer  to  join  the  reportorial  stall'  of"  the  former 
inaj'or's  new  daily,  The  Sentinel.  When  the  Sentinel  eejised 
publication,  Wr.  I'lirdham  joined  the  staff  of  the  Vonkcrs 
Daily  Oazetle.  While  in  \'onkers  he  learned  that  Mr.  Arthur 
F.  Blot  wished  to  dispose  of  the  Mount  \  ernon  News  and  in 
181)7,  he  leased  the  News  for  one  year.  When  the  lease  exjiired 
Judf^e  Geor^je  C.  Appell,  who  had,  in  conjunction  with  Gcorfje 
C.  Weiss,  and  some  others,  started  the  News,  secured  Mr. 
Blot's  stock  and  on  January  1,  1S9S,  the  paper  was  sold  to 
W.  B.  and  E.  G.  Sutherland,  of  White  Plains.  They  retained 
Mr.  I'ordham  as  manajier  and  editor.  In  November  of  that 
year,  1S9S,  Mr.  Pordhani  was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Beres- 
ford  Burrowes,  onl_v  daufjhter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  W. 
Burrowes,  of  this  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pordhani  have  one  child, 
Janice  Grace  Pordhani.  Mr.  Pordham  is  a  member  of  the 
Ro^-al  Arcanum,  City  Club,  Westchester  Wheelmen  and  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen.  July,  1K99,  Mr.  Pordham  ]nir- 
chased  the  Mount  X'ernon  News  from  Messrs.  Sutherland.  In 
April,  1900,  he  published  the  first  number  of  the  Mount  \'er- 
non  Dailv  Eagle.  The  Westchester  Publishing  Company  was 
incorporated  for  the  [nirpose  of  publishing  the  new  daily,  and 
Mr.  Pordham  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  Mount  N'ernon 
News  Publishing  Comjjan}-,  became  president  of  the  new 
corporation.  Mr.  John  II.  Bangs,  of  the  New  York  Sun,  and 
Mr.  Harry  D.  Whittle,  of  the  New  York  Herald,  were  inter- 
ested with  Mr.  Pordham  in  the  publication  of  the  new  dailv. 
The  year  following  the  publication  of  the  Daily  Eagle,  the 
Daily  Argus  was  made  a  Keijublican  newsj)a])er,  the  Daily 
liagle  becoming  the  only  Democratic  daily  in  the  city.  The 
Daily  Eagle  has  been  successful,  and  a  paying  business  jiropo- 
sition  from  within  a  few  months  of  the  jjublication  of  its 
first  issue.  It  is  Democratic  in  the  widest  and  best  sense  of 
the  term,  and  aims  to  be  the  progressive  newsjjaper  of  the 
community.  The  Daily  Eagle  became  the  official  Democratic 
city  newspaj)er  during  its  second  ^-ear  and  was  again  design- 
ated last  year  by  the  Common  Council.  Major  J.  B.  Hop- 
per has  charge  of  the  business  department  of  the  Daily  Eagle 
and  Mr.  Harry  D.  Whittle  is  news  editor.  Mr.  Pordhani  has 
spent  over  $10,000  in  thoroughly  equipping  the  Eagle  with 
one  of  the  best  newspaper  plants  in  Westchester  County.  A 
linotype  and  a  Cox  Duplex  perfecting  press,  run  by  electric 
motors,  are  among  the  up-to-date  features  of  the  plant,  which 
is  located  at  No.  14  Depcjt  Place,  in  the  City  Hall  building. 
The  only  other  newspaper  perfecting  press  (which  prints  from 
the  roll  instead  of  flat,  cut  sheets)  is  in  the  office  of  the 
Yonkers  Statesman.  The  Cox  Duplex  press  prints  (both 
sides  at  a  time)  and  pastes,  cuts  and  folds  6,000  complete 
papers  per  hour.  The  well  equipped  job  oflice  of  the  ])lant  is 
leased  to  Mr.  Walter  Kockett,  formerly  foreman  of  the  Daily 
Eagle.  Walter  K.  Selth,  William  J.  Harper,  and  Thomas  Hitch- 
cock are  on  the  reportorial  staff  of  the  Daily  Eagle  and  Wni. 
C.  Pells  is  White  Plains  correspondent. 

SIEGPRIED  WrRZBURG,  Police  Commissioner  of  the 
City  of  Mount  Vernon  and  successful  real  estate  and  insurance 
broker,  was  born  in  Berlin,  Prussia,  and  was  educated  at  the 
Royal  Prederick  William  High  School.  After  graduating  he 
travelled  on  the  Continent  upon  important  business  interests 
and  was  for  many  years  a  representative  of  the  Jacob  Stalil 
Cigar  Pactory  of  New  Y'ork  City.  He  came  to  Mount  Vernon 
in  ISSl  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and  now  has 
offices  in  the  Bank  Building,  Third  avcnueand  Pirststreet.  Ik- 
is  considered  an  expert  on  real  values  in  Westchester  County, 
and  represents  leading  domestic  and  foreign  insurance  com- 


panies. He  is  <i  public-s])iritcd  citizen  and  lakes  a  deej)  in- 
terest in  all  that  ajjpertains  to  the  welfare  of  his  adopted 
city.  Mr.  Wurzburg  has  been  Police  Commissioner  of  Mount 
\  ernon  since  July,  IS'.l'j.    He  is  one  of  the  liovernors  of  the 


sii;r,i-Kii;i)  wi  kzhi  kc.. 

City  Club,  a  member  of  the  .Masonic  Order,  Cycle  Club  and 
Road  Drivers'  Association  of  New  York.  He  has  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances  with  whom  he  is  (juite  popular. 

MELVILLE  S.  PAGE,  D.D.S,  was  born  at  Middlebury, 
Conn.,  where  he  received  his  early  education,  sul)sequently 
removing  to  Woodbur\-,  Conn.,  where  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  and  carved  his  way  to  success. 
After  leaving  Woodbury,  he  attended  the  Pennsylvania  College 
of  Dental  Surgery  in  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  with  high 
honors.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  Ohio  for  a  time  and 
came  to  Mount  Vernon  in  1887,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  first  located  on  Third  street,  and  then  removed  to  150  South 
Second  avenue,  where  his  present  residence  and  oflice  are  loca- 
ted. He  has  a  very  lucrative  and  extensive  practice.  He  is 
a  Republican  in  politics,  a  member  of  the  Pirst  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Mount  X'ernon,  and  one  of  its  trustees.  He  is  a 
prominent  mason,  belonging  to  King  Solomon's  Lodge  No.  7, 
Woodbury,  Conn.,  a  member  of  Bethlehem  Coniniandery,  No. 

Knights  Templar,  of  Mount  \'crnon,  and  Mecca  Shrine, 
of  New  \'ork  City.  Dr.  Page  has  always  been  a  great  lover 
and  i)atron  of  music,  he  was  formerly  organist  of  the  I-'irst 
Congregational  Church  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  and  has  been 
closely  identified  with  the  various  musical  societies  in  Mount 
\  ernon.  He  is  pleasant  in  manner,  genial  in  disposition, 
public-spirited  and  iJrogressive,  and  gives  his  sujiport  to  all 
measures  for  the  lienefit  of  the  community.  He  is  a  kind, 
conscientious,  christian  gentleman,  a  pojiular  and  influential 
citizen  and  has  many  warm  friends.  He  was  ni.arried  Decem- 
lier       1879,  to  Miss  Mora  E.  Smith,  of  Southbury,  Conn. 


no 


HISTORY    OF    AI  O  U  NT   Y  E  R  N  O  N 


CHARLES  WEBER,  Alderman,  was  born  in  New  York 
Cii  v  in  Mareh,  1860.  He  was  edueated  in  the  jjublic  schools— 
afterw;ird  learned  the  trade  of  butcher  with  his  father,  thus 
per]X'tuatin<^  the  name  of  Weber  as  a  faniil_v  of  butchers. 
He  came  to  Mount  Vernon  in  1877,  and  commenced  business 
under  the  name  of  the  Weber  Packino:  Company  in  1885  on 
Mount  \'ernon  avenue,  and  has  btiilt  up  a  large,  flourishing 
industry,  manufacturing  lard,  sausage,  hams,  shoulders,  mak- 
ing in  fact  everything  appertaining  to  a  modern  packing  house. 
Mr.  Weber  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been  very  active  in  the 
allairs  of  his  partv,  has  l)een  efficient  in  pul)lic  service  as  well 
as  influential  in  part}-  councils.  He  was  elected  Alderman  of 
his  ward  in  the  spring  of  1899,  holding  over  two  vears 
and  a  half  to  even  up  the  change  in  the  Charter  Election. 
In  January,  1901,  he  was  ajiiiointed  Health  Commissioner 
by  Mayor  Fiske.  In  November,  1902,  he  was  again  elected 
to  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  He  is  now  the  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Building  and  member  of  the  Health,  Pounds 
and  Pound  Masters  and  Lighting  and  Water  Committees. 
Mr.  Weber  has  been  very  efficient  in  the  Fire  Department  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  best  fire  fighters  in  the  citv.  He 
was  the  organizer  of  the  Columbus  Hose  Company  and  is 
still  a  member.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Firemen's  Be- 
nevolent Association,  Exempt  Firemen,  Roval  Arcanum,  Lnited 


ci,ARLi;s  wi;hi:k. 

Workmen,  Turn  X'erein,  Quartette  Club  and  other  societies. 
In  l.S9()  he  was  married  to  Miss  Christine  Reihm.  He  is 
thriving  and  ])rompt  in  business  and  is  a  good  citizen. 

WILLIAM  AKTHLK  MacNICHOLL,  D.D.S.,  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry  and  the  son  of  Reverend  Robert  Turner  Mac- 
Nicholl,  a  prominent  clergvnian  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  was  born  at  Roxbury,  Conn.,  May  30,  1876, 
and  when  two  years  of  age,  moved  with  his  parents  to  New 
York  Citv.  He  was  educated  in  the  schcxjls  of  New  York, 
graduated  from  Grammar  Sch(jol  No.  49,  entering  the  College 
of  the  City  of  New  York  in  1893.  In  1896,  he  took  up  the 
study  of  dental  surgery  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr.  Bald- 
win, a  noted  surgeon  of  Xorwalk,  Conn.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  he  entered  the  Philadelphia  Dental  College,  from 
whence  he  graduated  in  April,  1899,  as  Treasurer  of  his  class; 
he  was  Treasurer  also  of  the  (ramma  Chapter  of  Xi  Psi  Phi 
I-^r  iternity  during  the  senior  year.    He  passed  the  New  York 


State  Examination  to  practice  dentistry  with  honor.  The 
Doctor  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Philadelphia  School  of  Anat- 
omy. He  has  been  a  resident  of  Mount  Vernon  for  three 
years;  he  was  President  of  the  Young  Men's  Debating  Club 
of  New  York;  he  is  now  Secretary  of  the  Westchester  County 
Sunday-school    Association    and  Treasurer  of  several  social 


WILLIAM    ARTHTR   M  icN  I C  HO  LL.  I).  I).  S. 

organizations.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chester  Hill  M.  E. 
Church,  Fellow  of  the  Xi  Psi  Phi  Fraternity,  the  Alumni 
Society  of  the  Philadelphia  Dental  College,  Garretsonian  I'hilo- 
sophical  Societv  and  a  member  of  the  Bowling  Club  and  sev- 
eral other  societies  of  Mount  \'ernon.  He  is  not  married,  but 
his  engagement  is  aniuiunced  to  Miss  Nellie  Louise  Murdock, 
daughter  of  Chas.  H.  Murdock,  a  prominent  and  leading  citi- 
zen of  South  Bend,  Ind.  Dr.  MacNicholl  is  a  very  popular 
man,  honored  for  his  fidelity  to  principle,  esteemed  for  his 
genial  manner  and  loved  for  his  many  admirable  (pialitics. 

DANIEL  C.  HICKEV,  deceased,  was  born  in  Ireland 
February  24,  1840,  and  when  eight  years  of  age,  came  with 
his  family  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Lawrence,  Mass. 
He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Crowe)  Hickey,  his 
mother  being  a  sister  of  Archbishop  Crowe,  of  Ireland.  He 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Lawrence,  Mass.,  where  he 
lived.  In  1868  he  removed  to  Mount  Vernon.  Mr.  Hickey 
was  a  large  railroad  contractor  and  achieved  much  suc- 
cess in  ttinnelling  the  Palisades  at  Fairview,  N.  J.,  for  the 
Susquehanna  and  Western  Railroad,  and  in  constructing  the 
Vosburg  tunnel  for  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad.  He  was  in  great 
demand  b_v  the  railroad  companies  of  thecountry  and  had  accu- 
mulated a  large  fortune  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a 
leader  in  the  Democratic  party,  a  Tammany  representative 
and  a  member  of  the  Democratic  State  Committee.  He  was  one 
of  the  Supervisors  of  Westchester  Cotmty,  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  People's 


'owcr  House  1)1"  the  I  nion  K   K.  Co.  al  West  I'ai  ins. 


HISTORY    (  )  P    M  O  U  X  T    \'  B  R  X  O  X 


113 


Bank  of  Mount  \'criion  (now  the  First  National  Bank)  and 
one  of  its  larj^cst  stockholders.  On  Aujjust  1,  1S74,  hf  niarricti 
Miss  Ellen  Hlizal)eth  Bird,  dauj^hter  of  Terrence  Bird,  of  Me- 
tuehen,  N.  J.,  who  survives  him  and  is  a  much  esteemed  .and 
accomplished  ladv  and  resides  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
residences  in  Mount  \'ernon.  Mr.  Ilickcy  left  six  children, 
one  by  his  former  wife,  Miss  Catherine  llickey,  and  five  by 
the  second  wife,  Mrs.  Marj^aret  Winship :  jiio.  ].,  Rose  M., 
Nellie  J.,  and  Dan'l.  C,  jr.  lie  died  July  12,  1  SI)  1-,  lamented 
b^-  his  neighbors  and  friends. 

WILLIAM  ()RI(;!:.N  TllKOOI",  D.D.S.,  was  born  in 
Schoharie,  Schoharie  County,  N.  V.,  July  14-,  187.'5.  He  at- 
tended the  ])ublic  schools  and  graduated  in  his  profession  at 
the  Haliimore  College  of  Dental  Surgery.  He  has  lived  in 
Mount  \'ernoii  five  j^ears  <ind  is  closely'  identified  with  her 
interests.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  Church.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret 
A.   Mcintosh   and   they  have  one  child,   Charles  .Mortimer 


WILLIAM    OKKUvN  TllKOOI'. 

Throop,  2d.  Doctor  Throo])  is  a  worthy  representative  of  his 
profession,  has  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  is  very  highly 
esteemed  in  the  city  of  his  adoption. 

ill-NRV  B.  I'RCSIvR  was  born  in  New  York  City  on  the 
fifth  day  of  September,  1857.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  New  York  and  graduated  from  a  business  college. 
Afterward  he  was  for  ;i  number  of  j-ears  confidential  clerk  in 
a  large  wholesale  grocerv  firm  in  New  York  City.  He  removed 
to  Mount  Vernon  in  1880  and  became  engaged  in  188v5  in 
the  coal  business  in  that  citj',  in  which  he  has  continued  until 
the  present  time.  When  embarking  in  this  business  eighteen 
\'ears  ago,  he  bought  out  the  Miller  Bros,  yard,  since  that 
time  his  business  has  increased  greatly  and  he  now  has,  in 
addition  to  large  yards  in  the  city,  an  extensive  plant  at  the 
foot  of  Fulton  avenue,  Eastchester,  in  which  locality  he  is 


one  of  the  ])ioneers.  Mr.  Pruser  is  a  Democrat  and  has  been 
inrtueiitial  in  the  affairs  of  his  ])arty ;  he  was  cit\'  treasurer 
for  three  consecutive  terms,  running  through  a  period  of  six 
3-ears;  he  retired  from  this  office  in  June,  1902.  During  his 
incumbenc3'  the  affairs  of  the  office  were  conducted  with  pre- 
cision and  faithfulness.    He  stands  high  in  the  .Masonic  fratcr- 


IIICNKV    B.  I'KISICK. 


nity,  being  a  32d  degree  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Mecca 
Temple,  Mystic  Shrine,  the  O.  D.  O.,  and  also  of  the  Masonic 
Historical  Society'  of  New  York;  he  was  master  of  Hiawatha 
Lodge  for  several  3'ears,  and  while  in  that  position  was  ap- 
pointeil  to  the  office  of  grand  marshal  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  .-Yrcanum,  Turnverein  and  City  Club  of  Mount  Ve!:non. 
He  was  married  in  September,  1882,  to  Louise  .M.  Neuberth 
of  New  York  City.  They  have  one  daughter.  Miss  Mary  .M. 
Mr.  Pruser  is  a  gentleman  of  pleasing  manner  and  address, 
and  a  man  of  strong  personalitv.  He  possesses  m<-iny  warm 
friends,  and  holds  a  high  position  in  the  business  coniinunity. 

CHARLES  FAYERWEATHER  SHER.MAN  was  born  at 
Redding,  Fairfield  County,  Conn.,  on  the  third  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1872,  and  educated  at  the  district  schools  of  that 
place.  He  has  resided  in  Mount  Vernon  for  the  jiast  eight 
years.  I  le  is  a  commercial  teacher  and  princijial  of  the  Mount 
X'ernon  Business  School,  situated  at  3+  and  30  South  Fourth 
avenue.  In  ])olitics  he  is  a  Republican  and  although  not 
much  of  a  jiarty  man,  he  lielieves  in  its  princijiles.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  First  Methodist  I-!])iscopal  Church,  Hiawatha 
Lodge  No.  4-34-,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Mount  \'ernon  Chajiter  R.  A. 
M.,  C.  J.  Nordquist  Cam])  No.  M,  S.  of  \'.,  Vernon  Con- 
clave No.  510,  Imjiroved  Order  Hejitasophs,  New  York  Com- 
mercial Teachers'  .Vssociation,  Registered  Business  Schools' 
.Association,  Treasurer  of  Young  Men's  Christian  .Association 
and  President  Westchester  County  Sunday  School  -Association. 
He  was  married  on  May  8,  1S94-,  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  to 


114 


HISTORY    OF    MOUNT  VERNON 


Miss  Susie  A.  Elliott.  The  Mount  Vernon  Business  School, 
of  which  Mr.  Sherman  is  principal,  has  been  registered  by 
the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  (Board  of  Regents) 


CHARLES  F.  SHERMAN. 

since  1898;  it  is  centrally  located  and  convenient  to  the  rail- 
road stations.  It  has  a  reputation  for  fair  dealing  and  main- 
tains satisfactory  educational  standards  and  teaches  all  busi- 
ness subjects.  It  has  a  very  extensive  patronage.  Mr.  Sher- 
man, though  a  young  man,  has  attained  eminence  in  his 
profession ;  his  appearance  is  commanding  and  impressive  and 
his  dignity  of  manner  is  marked  by  great  courtesy  and  kind- 
ness. In  recognition  of  his  upright  life  he  has  been  vouch- 
safed the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-men  and  his  dili- 
gence, energy  and  character  have  won  for  him  the  confidence 
of  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


WILFRED  THEODORE  VAN  YORX,  JR.,  is  a  native  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  was  born  in  1870.  His  education  was 
received  in  the  district  schools  of  Connecticut.      He  is  by 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  WII.I'OKI)   T.   VAX  VORX. 


profession  a  singer  and  vocal  teacher;  he  has  a  large  and 
select  clientele,  his  studio  being  at  No.  6  East  17th  street, 
New  York  City.    He  also  has  charge  of  the  Vocal  Depart- 


ment of  the  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  to 
which  work  he  gives  much  attention.  For  the  past  seven 
years  Mr.  Van  Yorx  has  been  very  prominent  in  the  concert 
and  oratorio  field  and  he  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  one 
of  the  most  prominent  artists  in  that  work  in  the  country. 
He  is  at  present  the  tenor  soloist  in  the  choir  of  All  Souls' 
Church  (Unitarian),  20th  street  and  4th  avenue,  Nev\,'  York, 
and  also  in  the  choir  of  the  Temple  Emanuel,  43d  street  and 
Fifth  avenue.  New  York.  He  is  independent  in  politic?,  is  a 
member  of  the  Siwanoy  Country  Club  of  Mount  Vernon, 
and  of  the  Masonic  Order,  among  other  degrees  being  a 
Knights  Templar.  Mr.  Van  Yorx  has  resided  in  Mount  Ver- 
non for  the  past  three  years  and  by  his  pleasant  and  courte- 
ous manner  has  made  a  large  number  of  friends.  On  Novem- 
ber 11,  1895,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ida  Belle  Cooley;  they 
have  two  sons.  Mrs.  Van  Yorx  is  soprano  soloist  in  the 
Madison  avenue  Baptist  Church,  corner  31st  street  and  Madi- 
son avenue.  New  York.  The  joint  recitals  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Yorx  are  very  popular  musical  functions,  especially  in 
the  Eastern  and  Central  States. 


H.   criLI-dKli   BATMAN,   I).   I>.  S. 


E.  GUILFORD  BAUMAN,  D.D.S.,  whose  residence  and 
office  is  at  141  South  Tenth  avenue.  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y., 
was  born  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  in  1875.  In  1886  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Mount  Vernon  and  has  resided  there  ever 
since,  having  received  his  preliminar}'  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  city,  of  which  he  is  a  graduate.  He  is  also  a 
graduate  of  the  New  York  Trade  School,  after  which  he  entered 
and  graduated  from  the  New  York  College  of  Dentistry,  the 
profession  which  he  now  so  successfully  practices.  Dr.  Bau- 
man  is  a  member  of  the  Westchester  County  Wheelmen's  Club 
of  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y.,  a  member  of  the  Golden  Rod  Coun- 
cil of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the  Siwanoy  Country  Club 
of  this  city  and  also  a  member  of  the  New  Rochelle  Yacht 
Club. 


Tlic  Circle.  North  Fourth  anil  Uincoln  A  vciuics. 
Park.  I-Movcnth  Avcmio  and  First  Street. 
Clareniont  Aveiuie.  lookinjj  North. 


MomiinciU  Park. 
Park,  Glen  Aventu-  and  Willow  Place. 


II  I  S  T  ()  K  V    O  I-    MOT  X  T    \'  I-  R  X  ( )  X 


117 


CARI.  i;i,IAS  DUFFT,  M.D.,  \v;is  horn  al  liiluit.  Ct-r- 
maii3',  May  22,  IcSGf).  He  came  to  this  country  at  an  early 
age  and  was  educated  in  the  jjublic  schools  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania and  graduated  at  the  College  of"  I'hysicians  and 
Surgeons,  New  York  City.  He  is  a  professional  singer  and 
vocal  teacher.  He  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession, 
having  studied  with  such  eminent  ])recei)tors  as  I'rederick 
Walker,  Edwin  Holland  and  William  Shakespeare  in  London, 
and  in  New  York  with  Alberto  Laurence,  Louisa  Ca])i)iani, 
George  Sweet  and  James  Sauvage.  Dr.  DufFt  is  very  promi- 
nent in  church  and  oratorio  work;  he  is  at  ])resent  the  bass 
soloist  in  the  choir  of  the  Marble  Collegiate  Church,  2;)th  street 
and  Fifth  avenue.  New  York  City,  of  which  Dr.  David  James 
Murrell  is  pastor,  while  in  oratorio  he  is  well  known  in  all  of 
the  principal  cities  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  He  is  at 
the  head  of  the  Yocal  Department  of  the  Chautautjua  Insti- 
tution, situated  at  Chautauqua,  X.  Y. :  to  this  branch  of  the 
work  the  "Chautauqua"  is  now  devoting  much  attention, 
with  a  view  of  making  it  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  eflicient 
departments.     Dr.  DutR's  studio  in  New  \<trk  City  is  al  No. 


CAKI.    ICI.IAS  Dll'I-T. 


30  East  23d  street ;  he  has  made  Mount  \'crnon  his  home  since 
the  fall  of  1900.  In  i)olitics  he  is  independent;  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Siwanoy  Country  Club  of  Mount  X'ernon,  Crescent 
Lodge  No.  4-02,  F.  and  A.  M.,  Crescent  Chapter  No.  220 
R.  A.  M.,  and  the  Palestine  Commander3-  No.  IS;  he  is  also 
a  Scottish  Kite  Mason  of  the  32d  degree  and  a  member  of 
the  Mecca  Temple  of  the  M^'stic  Shrine.  Dr.  Dufft  is  broad- 
gauged  and  progressive  in  his  ideas  and  is  endowed  with 
much  energy  and  perseverance,  possessing  great  personal 
magnetism.  On  June  2(),  1S94-,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Bertha 
Marie  Carr,  of  Springfield,  Mass.;  the\-  have  three  bright  and 
interesting  children:  Carl  Iv.,  Jr.,  James  Ilenrv  and  Rcgina 
Marion. 

WILLIA.M  E.  YAN  AKSDALE,  the  well-known  undertaker 
and  cmbalmer  of  Mount  Yernon,  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
July  1802.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of 
the  city,  and  has  been  a  resident  thereof  for  thirty-seven 
3'ears.  After  graduating  in  the  public  schools,  he  attended 
the  Oriental  College  of  Embalming  in  Boston,  Mass.,  gradu- 
ating therefrom  Se]>teniber  29,  1891.  He  is  a  Republican, 
but  has  never  held  nor  sought  olhce  of  any  kind.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  the  Ascension  (Episcopal),  Wheel' 
men's  Westchester  Club,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  St.  John  and 
Malta,  Improved  Order  of  Heptasophs  and  of  the  Royal  Arcan- 


um. He  was  married  April  is,  ISSS,  to  Miss  Minnie  K.  Wey- 
and,  o(  .New  \'ork,  and  they  have  one  daughter,  I";innie  A.  .Mr. 
\'an  .\rs(l;de   is  a    representative  business  man,  .-ifiable  and 


WII.I.IA.M    i;.   \AN  AKSHAI.I- 

polite  and  justly  ranks  among  the  best  citizens  of  the  com- 
nmnity. 

C.IvORCI';  W.  1-ENNI:LL  was  born  April  1,  1S7S,  in  New 
York,    lie  was  educated  in  the  ])ublic  schools  and  graduated 


(•.i;()K(;i;  w.  i  i:nni;i.i.. 


from  the  New  York  Institute.  He  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business,   and  is  the  senior  member  of  the  tirni  of  George 


lis 


HISTORY    OF   MOUNT  VERNON 


Fennell  &  Co.,  dealers  in  furniture  and  carpets,  with  stores 
at  110-114  South  Fourth^avenue,  Mount  Vernon,  and  in  New 
York  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the  City  Club  of  Mount  Ver- 
non and  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  is  a  business  man  of  ability, 
and  is  a  pleasant,  courteous  gentleman,  possessing  the  con- 
fidence and  regard  of  all  who  know  him. 

MAURICE  J.  SULLIVAN.  Here  is  a  man  who  will  be  al- 
waj'san  aggressive  force  in  any  community  where  he  ma^-  live, 
a  man  who  thinks  rapidly  and  acts  quickly.  Here  is  a  man 
who  sees,  and  seeing  observes.  Correct  bases  of  conviction 
and  judgment  are  the  resultants.  Here  is  a  man  who  has 
in  him  no  chicane  nor  seed  of  treachery,  discriminating  in  his 
thought,  judicial  in  his  judgments.  Having  weighed  men  or 
measures  in  the  light  of  reason,  fitness,  capability,  having 
thus  reared  his  structure  of  conviction  or  belief,  this  man 
clings  stubbornly  to  principle,  goes  "sled-length"  with  his 
friend,  and  abides  with  his  opponent  unto  the  end  of  the 
road.  Maurice  Joseph  Sullivan  was  born  forty-six  years  ago 
in  the  Murray  Hill  district  of  New  York  City.  He  is  a  grad- 
uate of  St.  Gabriel's  School,  famous  for  its  high  standards. 
When  the  lad  left  school  thousands  of  men  released  from  the 
Army  of  the  Civil  War  were  seeking  employment.  All  chances 
of  endeavor  were  congested  with  applicants.  Young  Sullivan 
standing  with  his  face  to  the  morning  made  his  way  into  the 
Federal  Service  at  the  New  York  Custom  House,  making  his 
way  among  older  men  and  war  veterans.  He  acquired  there 
the  self-reliance  that  comes  to  men  of  metal  when  ground  in 
such  a  turmoil  as  the  Customs  Service  in  New  Y'ork  City. 

The  father  had  died  years  before,  and  the  demise  of  the 
cherished  mother  loosened  the  local  tendrils  and  the  youth 
left  New  Y'ork.  He  made  his  base  at  Philadelphia,  and  in- 
troduced for  a  firm  of  that  city  the  scroll- saw  and  its  re- 
markable possibilities.  Youngster  that  he  was  Sullivan  had 
fitted  his  shoulders  to  life's  responsibilities,  and  he  was  en- 
trusted with  a  wonderful  display  of  scroll  work  at  the  Cen- 
tennial in  1876.  Such  capabilities  challenged  attention  and 
when  his  work  at  the  Centennial  had  closed  he  was  drawn 
into  the  employ  of  a  great  machinery  and  tool  manufactur- 
ing concern.  During  his  residence  in  Philadelphia,  Sullivan 
strengthened  his  life  position  by  marriage  with  a  beautiful 
and  gracious  woman,  Miss  Therese  C.  Kellar,  daughter  of 
Andrew  C.  Kellar,  a  leading  shoe  manufacturer  of  Lancaster, 
Pa.  Then  came  other  evidences  of  development,  among  them 
a  desire  for  the  wider  field  of  the  metropolis.  He  became 
allied  with  the  New  York  Steam  Heating  Company,  pushing 
their  system  into  general  use.  At  this  juncture  the  wave  of 
building  construction  rolled  into  upper  Manhattan,  and  Sul- 
livan divining  the  trend  of  the  tide  plunged  into  interests  that 
were  potent  in  covering  the  Harlem  district  with  new  homes. 
With  keen  vision  the  young  man  foresaw  the  inevitable  ad- 
vance in  realty  values,  and  by  an  easy  stride  he  stepped 
into  the  real  estate  business.  He  followed  and  led  in  this 
enterprise  until  Harlem  was  settled,  and  then  he  pushed  out 
to  the  border  possibilities.  Naturally  enough  he  moved  his 
family  to  Williamsbridge  in  1887.  There  the  man's  dominant 
spirit,  his  sterling  integrity  and  ceaseless  push,  brought  him 
into  the  governing  board  of  the  newly  incorporated  village. 
Thence  he  moved  to  Mount  Vernon  and  became  identified 
there  with  large  real  estate  and  building  operations,  reach- 
ing constantly  for  new  channels.  Mr.  Sullivan,  two  years  ago, 
turned  his  attention  to  an  invention  for  the  saving  of  coal  in 
stoves,  boilers  and  heaters.  This  has  so  developed  in  its 
results  and  possibilities  that  Mr.  Sullivan  has  recently  organ- 
ized a  company  in  New  York,  of  which  he  is  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  In  all  the  progress  of  his  business  life  Mr.  Sul- 
livan has  not  neglected  the  social  and  ethical  side,  being  pro- 


minent in  each.  He  has  grown  abreast  of  the  times,  being 
an  omnivorous  reader  and  a  thinker  of  breadth  and  liberal 
tendencies.  He  is  an  ardent  lover  of  music  and  has  been  a 
leading  tenor  in  churches  of  New  York  City  and  Westchester 
County.  He  has  organized  and  vitalized  a  literary  club  of 
Mount  Vernon  citizens,  in  which  the  political  and  social  pro- 
blems of  the  age,  day  and  hour  are  subjected  to  keen  scrutiny 
and  broad,  intelligent  debate.  The  influence  of  such  a  man  in 
his  community  cannot  be  fully  measured  in  his  own  day.  The 
results  of  Mr.  Sullivan's  interest  and  endeavor  will  be  strong- 
est in  years  to  come,  after  the  city's  formative  period  has 
passed  and  when  his  posterity  harken  back  with  respect  to 
the  memory  of  a  mother  who  was  their  guide,  and  to  the 
influence  of  a  father  who  was  a  standard  for  them  and  for  his 
community. 

CLARENCES.  MERRILL,  ex-alderman  of  Mount  Vernon, 
was  born  November  2-4,  1870,  and  is  the  son  of  Oliver  H. 
and  Anna  F.  Merrill.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Manchester,  Conn.,  and  the  High  school  of  Hartford.  He 


CUARENCE  S.  MERRII.L; 


then  entered  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis, 
Md.  He  became  a  citizen  of  Mount  Vernon  in  1897.  For 
thirteen  years  previously,  he  was  connected  with  the  Under- 
wood Manufacturing  Company  of  Tolland,  Conn.,  first  as 
salesman  for  seven  years  and  afterwards  was  their  manager 
in  New  York.  His  political  affiliation  is  with  the  Democratic 
part3^ ;  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon 
in  1899  and  served  with  great  ability  and  efficiency  until 
November,  1901.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Commercial  Travel- 
ers Club,  Golden  Rod  Council  of  Royal  Arcanum,  Clinton 
Hook  &  Ladder  Co.,  and  many  other  societies.  In  June, 
1892,  he  was  married  to  Lelia  C.  Munsey,  of  Laconia,  N.  H. 
They  have  two  daughters :  Ella  and  Anna.  Mr.  Alerrill  is  a 
man  of  great  natural  ability  and  energy,  is  courteous,  well- 
informed  and  enterprising,  and  takes  a  prominent  part  in 


Two  (lid  I,atidniarks. 
The  Stevens  Homestead.  Residence  of  Mr.  Ocorpe  Stevens. 
The  Collins  Homestead,  Residence  of  Mr.  W.J.  Collins. 


II  1ST  ()  R  Y   o  r 


M  ()  r  X  T  V  I-:  K  X  o  x 


121 


the  social  life  of  Mouiil  \"criion.  For  the  past  year  he  has 
been  the  geiierjil  agent  for  Westchester  County  for  the  Aeoli- 
pyle  Company-,  manufacturers  of  apparatus  f  or  perfecting  com- 
bustion, with  home  offices  at  237  Water  street,  New  York 
City,  antl  who  do  a  very  extensive  business. 

(iENBKAL  IIi:.\KV  II.  HOVCE  was  born  in  Ohio,  being 
the  youngest  of  five  boj-s ;  his  father,  whose  family  numbered 
ten  children,  removing,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
but  three  years  old,  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  engaged  extensive- 
ly in  farming  and  railroad  building.  Here  the  future  soldier, 
as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough,  worked  on  the  farm  in  the 
summer  and  attended  the  district  school  in  the  winter.  From 
the  time  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  until  he  was  sixteen,  he 
performed  all  of  the  work  of  a  man,  ploughing,  driving  a 
breaking-team  and  hauling  grain  to  market  twenty  miles  nwny. 
All  of  his  spare  time  was  given  to  study,  preparing  to  enter 
college.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  was  one  of  the  first 
to  respond  to  President  Lincoln's  first  call,  but  was  not 
able  to  get  into  the  three-months'  service.  A  little  later  he 
enlisted  for  three  3-ears  in  the  45th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  was  rapidly  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  in  November, 
1861.  He  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  for  gallantry  on  the 
field  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  was  made  captain  of  his 
company  when  twenty  years  of  age.  His  regiment  partici- 
pated in  twenty-three  battles,  being  with  the  army  of  the 
Tennessee  all  the  way  from  Cairo,  111.,  in  1861,  to  Washington 
D.  C,  in  1865.  At  Fort  Donelson,  February  15,  1862,  Lieu- 
tenant Boyce  was  severely  wounded,  being  shot  through  the 
hip  while  his  regiment  was  assaulting  the  works.  At  \'icks- 
burg  on  the  25th  day  of  June,  1863,  Captain  Bovce  was 
again  desperately  wounded,  while  his  regiment,  the  45th 
Illinois  was  leading  the  assault  on  Fort  Hill.  In  honor  of 
that  gallant  charge,  the  regiment  was  given  the  right  of 
the  line  when  (General  Grant's  victorious  army  marched  into 
Vicksburg,  July  4,  1863,  and  the  flag  of  the  45th  Illinois 
was  the  first  to  be  raised  over  the  court-house  in  the  cap- 
tured city.  Captain  Boyce  later  was  with  his  regiment  in 
the  Georgia  campaign,  and  after  that  in  Sherman's  "March 
to  the  Sea."  He  was  chief  engineer  of  3rd  Division  17th 
Army  Corps,  being  Logan's  old  division,  serving  on  the  stati" 
of  General  M.  D.  Leggett,  whose  high  appreciation  of  Captain 
Boyce's  soldierly  qualities  is  shown  by  the  letter  given  below, 
and  addressed  to  Governor  Yates,  the  war  governor  of  Illinois. 

Headquarters,  3rd  Division  17th  A.  C. 
Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  28,  1864. 
His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Illinois, 

Governor: — Captain  Henrv  H.  Boj-cc,  45th  Regiment 
Illinois  Veteran  \'olunteer  Infantrv,  has  just  been  obliged  to 
resign  his  position  in  the  army,  in  consequence  of  the  un- 
favorable condition  of  a  wound  received  during  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  while  assaulting  "Fort  Hill,"  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1863.  In  our  late  campaign  he  has  been  a  member  of  mj- 
staff,  and  has  acted  as  chief  engineer  of  ni3-  division.  It  is 
due  to  Captain  Bo3-ce  that  I  should  state,  that  whether  with 
his  regiment  or  on  stafl'  dut}-,  he  has  alwaj's  displaj-ed  to  a 
high  degree  the  qualifications  of  a  soldier  and  gentleman. 
Always  affable,  kind  and  generous,  intelligent,  gallant  and 
brave,  j-et  cool  and  discreet  and  his  habits  strictlv  temperate 
and  upright.  No  offcer  in  my  command  is  more  highlv  es- 
teemed, and  none  more  worthy  of  confidence  and  respect.  I 
take  great  pleasure  in  recommending  him  to  your  kindest 
regards.    Very  respcctfulh-, 

Y'our  Obedient  Servant, 

M.  D.  LEGGETT,  Brig.-Gen'l. 


After  leaving  the  armv,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
enqjloyed  in  teaching  £in(I  other  work  £ind  removed  to  Cali- 
fornia some  j'cars  later,  where  he  was  engaged  in  real  estate 
and  banking  business.  He  organized  the  Southern  California 
National  Bank,  n<jw  the  .Merchants  Nati(jnal  Bank,  at  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.,  and  was  its  first  president.  The  Ijank  is  a 
prosperous  concern  and  has  been  a  dividend  paver  from  the 
start.  Governor  K.  I).  Waterman  commissioned  him  Brigadier- 
General  commanding  the  First  Brigade  National  Guard  of 
California.  On  account  of  business  (k-ncral  Boyce  removed 
east  in  1891,  and  later  purchased  a  home  in  Mount  \'crn<jn, 
at  345  Bedford  avenue,  where  he  has  resided  for  the  last 
nine  years.  In  181)9  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Wyoming 
Southern  Railway  Company',  and  in  1902  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  Lowe  Coke  and  Gas  Companv,  capital  $5,000,- 
000.  Genera!  Boyce  is  an  active  and  influential  Republican, 
and  at  the  present  time  is  vice-president  of  the  Rejmblican 
Club  of  Mfjunt  \'ernon  and  vice-chairman  of  the  Republican 
City  Committee  of  Mount  \'ernon. 

JOHN  J.  IIICKEY,  a  son  of  the  late  Daniel  C.  Ilickey, 
is  a  native  of  Mount  \'ernon,  N.  \'.,  and  was  born  August 
17,  1878.  He  was  educated  at  Fordham  College  and  gradu- 
ated at  Mount  St.  Mary's  College,  Emniettsburg,  Md.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  Mount  X'ernon  all  his  life;  he  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  Motmt  Vernon  Automobile  Company,  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  I'irst  National   Bank  of  Mount  \'erni)n,  a 


JOHN  ,1.  IIICKICV. 

member  of  the  Siwanoy  Country  Club,  Autoniol)ile  Club  of 
.\merica.  Mount  \'ernon  Engine  Co.  No.  3,  and  of  the  Fire- 
men's Benevolent  Association.  He  was  married  on  May  24, 
1901,  to  Marie  M.  Rosenheimer.  .Mr.  Ilickey  is  a  rising  young 
business  man,  of  good  habits  and  fine  ajipearance.  and  devotes 
great  attention  to  the  .\utomobile  Company,  of  which  he  is 
president.  He  is  well  and  favorably  known,  with  a  remark- 
able faculty  for  the  conduct  and  dispatch  of  business. 


122 


HISTORY    OF    M  O  U 


NT    \'  E  R  N  O  N  . 


WILLIAM  \V.  HIGGINS  was  born  in  Bnxjklyn,  N.  Y.,  on 
November  30,  1877.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
pubhc  schools.  He  was  first  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  in  New  York  City  with  J.  Delmage  Triml)le.  In 
1898  he  enlisted  in  the  71st  Regiment  of  New  York,  Company 
B,  and  was  a  good  soldier  during  the  Spanish-American  War. 
After  its  termination  he  was  occupied  as  a  builder  in  New 
York  and  Indiana.  He  returned  to  Mount  Vernon  in  Novem- 
ber, 1901,  and  he  is  now  proprietor  of  the  Westchester  Trans- 
fer Company,  v\-ith  office  at  the  New  York  and  New  Haven 
Railroad  Station.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte  R.  Roe, 
of  Mount  Vernon,  daughter  of  the  late  Josiah  Roe.  They 
have  two  children,  William  and  Walter.  Mr.  Higgins  is  a 
member  of  the  Spanish  War  V  eterans  and  the  22d  Regiment  of 
Engineers  of  New  York.  He  belongs  to  the  Church  of  the 
Ascension,  Chester  Hill,  Mount  \'ernon.    He  stands  well  in 


WILLIAM   W.  HIGGIXS. 


the  community,  is  a  good  citizen,  kind  and  unassuming,  and 
his  rectitude  of  character  has  gained  for  him  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-men  wherever  he  is  known. 

JOHN  HENRY  ARMBRUSTEK,  whose  studio  is  located 
at  No.  56  South  Fifth  avenue,  Mt.  Vernon,  was  born  at  White 
Plains,  N.  Y.,  February  23d,  1865,  where  he  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  I'olitically,  Mr.  Armbruster  is  a 
conservative  Democrat.  He  has  never  held  nor  sought  any 
office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  In  photograpic  matters  Mr. 
Armbruster  is  a  master  of  his  profession,  he  having  served  for 
more  than  twenty-five  years  in  that  line.  Most  of  the  por- 
traits reproduced  in  this  volume  were  made  in  his  studio.  He 


JOHN'   H.  ARMBRX'STKK. 

has  .'I  large  and  select  clientele  for  whom  he  executes  work. 
.Mr.  .\rmbruster  is  popular  with  all  classes. 

The  office  building  here  represented  is  occupied  by  the 
Westchester  Lighting  Company,  one  of  the  notable  business 
concerns  of  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon,  which  furnishes  both 
gas  and  electricity  to  the  city,  as  well  as  to  nearly  the  entire 
countv  of  Westchester,  and  to  part  of  New  York,  supplying 


Westchester  Lifihting  Co.  Huililing. 

about  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  people  with  these 
necessities.  Through  the  offices  occupied  by  the  Company  in 
Mount  Vernon  is  transacted  not  only  the  local  business,  but 
the  general  business  for  its  entire  territory.  Some  idea  may 
be  obtained  of  the  magnitude  of  its  business,  and  the  benefits 


HISTORY   OF    M  O  r  X  T    \'  Iv  U  N  ( )  N 


123 


derived  troiu  the  operations  of  this  Company  liv  the  eily 
ol' Mount  Vernon,  when  it  is  known  that  more  than  a  hun- 
dred and  tif'ty  men  are  constantly  emiihjyed  in  the  ollices  here, 
who,  if  not  already  residents,  necessarilj-  become  such,  man\- 
of  whom  have  families,  and  who  receive  in  salaries  over 
$10,000  a  month,  the  most  of  which  is  paid  out  to  various 
local  merchants  and  business  people.  In  addition,  the  Com- 
pany pays  to  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon  over  $9,000  annually 
in  taxes,  and  to  the  business  firms  of  the  city,  for  supplies 
of  different  kinds  incident  to  the  local  requirements,  more 
than  $100,000  annually;  it  is,  therefore,  an  industry  of  no 
small  importance  to  the  community.  The  same  proportion 
of  expenditure  occurs  in  the  other  districts  in  the  county  cov- 
ered by  the  Comjjany's  operations.  The  workin<^  force  of 
the  Company  is  from  a  thousand  to  twelve  hundred  em- 
ployees. Since  the  absorption  of  the  minor  companies  hy  the 
Westchester  Lighting  Company,  the  records  show  a  gradual 
decrease  in  the  price  of  both  gas  and  electricity  to  its  con- 
sumers; and  the  people  of  this  citj'  generally  bear  witness  to 
the  satisfactory  service.  The  Company  has  done  much  re- 
cently in  the  way  of  introducing  electric  power  and  gas  en- 
gines into  small  manuacturing  plants.  The  results  have  been 
entirely  satisfactory ;  and  in  view  of  the  present  scarcity  of 
coal,  and  its  prohibitive  price,  the  motive  power  supplied  by 
this  Company  is  likeh-  to  become  more  popular  in  the  future. 

NEW  YORK  TELEPIIOXE  CO.  On  January  1,  1000, 
there  were  in  service  in  the  city  of  Mount  Vernon,  386  tele- 
phone stations.  The  Central  Office  was  located  in  the  build- 
ing at  No.  24"  South  Fourth  avenue,  and  the  equipment  was 
the  old  style  magneto  kind.  The  New  York  Telephone  Com- 
pany since  taking  charge  of  the  business  has  constructed  a 
new  building,  designed  for  telephone  purposes,  at  No.  -tO  South 
5th  Ave.,  a  picture  of  which  is  shown  in  this  book.  On  Janu- 
ary 18,  1902,  the  magneto  equipment  was  taken  out  and  the 
very  latest  and  best  type  of  common  battery  equipment  was 
substituted.  The  number  of  stations  in  service  January  18, 
1902,  was  971;  the  number  of  stations  in  service  on  Decem- 
ber 1,  1902,  was  1,307,  being  an  increase  of  921  since  Janu- 
ary 1,  1900.  Equipment  necessary  to  serve  6,000  subscribers 
is  provided  and,  with  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city  of  Mount 
Vernon  and  the  increased  popularity  of  the  telephone  service, 
the  Company  hopes  to  secure  enough  subscrilx*rs  within  the 
next  few  years  to  utilize  the  entire  equipment  provided. 

THE  MOUNT  VERNON  WATER  CO.  was  originally  in- 
corporated January  28,  1882,  by  33  then  leading  and  re- 
presentative citizens  of  Mount  Vernon,  who  nominated  the 
following  named  gentlemen  from  their  number  to  serve  as 
Trustees  for  the  first  yea.r :  Charles  Hill  Willson,  Oliver  Dyer, 
Joseph  S.  Wood,  Gerd  Martens,  David  Quackenbush,  William 
D.  Chapin,  Burr  Davis,  John  Berry,  Edson  Ix!wis,  Max  Huss, 
Elijah  N.  Wilscjn,  Simeon  L.  Close.  Their  source  of  supply 
was  from  an  artesian  well  sunk  in  property  on  South  Seventh 


avenue,  near  Third  street.  The  well  still  remains,  though  the 
machinery  has  been  dismantled.  This  conqjany  was  succeeded 
by  the  New  York  and  Mount  \'ernoii  Water  Conqjany,  incor- 
])orjited  January  23,  188(;.  The  controlling  interest  of  this 
conqjany  was  in  New  York  City.  At  that  time  the  ]iuni()ing 
station  was  located  at  a  jjoint  where  the  N.  Y.,  N.  11.  &  11. 
R.  R.  Co.  intersects  the  boundary  line  lietween  -Mount  \'ernon 
and  Pelham  and  its  supjily  was  then  taken  from  the  Hutchin- 
son river.  The  station  still  remains  at  this  point,  alth<jugh 
it  has  been  enlarged  and  nmch  inqjroved  since  that  time.  On 
March  26,  1891,  the  New  York  City  Suljurban  Water  Com- 
pany was  created  to  take  over  the  predecessijr  conqjany  and 
to  pr(jvi(le  means  for  increasing  the  suppl\'  of  water  rccjuired 
by  the  increasing  wants  of  the  rapidly  growing  city.  Much 
property  for  reservoir  purposes  was  acquired  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  (jf  the  city  <jf  New  Rtjchelle  and  many  costly  improve- 
ments were  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  yielding  a  better 
service  to  the  city.  The  filter  plant,  <jne  of  the  first  t<j  be 
inaugurated  in  this  country',  svas  c<jnstructed  during  that 
]jeriod.  The  strain  (jf  these  heavy  expenditures,  running  into 
hundreds  of  th(jusands  (jf  dollars,  coupled  with  the  financial 
depression  which  existed  at  that  time,  resulted  in  the  in- 
solvency of  the  company,  which  was  re-(jrganized  and  suc- 
ceeded by  the  New  Y'ork  Suburban  Water  Company,  incor- 
porated Mav  25,  1895.  Under  this  corporation  the  rights 
to  the  watershed  of  the  Mamaroneck  river  were  secured. 
The  present  company,  the  New  York  Inter-Urban  Water 
C(jmpany,  acquired  all  pr(jperty  and  rights  of  the  fijrmer 
conqjany  on  N(jvember  28,  1901.  The  present  c(jmpany  has 
extended  and  enlarged  upon  the  improvements  begun  under 
the  administrations  of  the  several  predecessors,  by  construct- 
ing a  large  conduit  main,  7  miles  in  length,  from  Mamanj- 
neck  to  Mount  \'ernon,  and  has  now  approaching  completion 
at  Mamaroneck,  one  (jf  the  nnjst  beautiful  and  co:nplete 
pumping  stations  in  this  part  of  the  country.  It  is  expected, 
when  this  station  shall  have  been  completed,  that  the  com- 
bined res(jurces  of  the  conqjan}'  will  be  equal  to  the  watei 
requirements  of  a  city  of  200,000  population.  Many  statistics 
affecting  the  water  company  may  be  found  on  pages  8  and 
9  of  the  Mayor's  report  for  1899-1900.  The  company  has 
nearly  50  miles  of  mains  and  nearly  500  hydrants  in  the 
cit}'.  The  State  Geologist  for  Pennsylvania,  conimissicjned 
b)'  the  U.  S.  Government  to  inspect  and  report  upon  the 
water  companies  (jf  the  country,  for  use  in  construction  and 
enlargement  (jf  the  services  for  the  cities  tif  WashingttJn,  D.^C, 
and  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  imparted  to  the  writer  that,  after  a 
thorough  investigation  of  water  plants  throughout  the  coun- 
try, he  considered  that  the  Mount  ^'ernon  plant,  from  the 
neatness  of  its  surroundings,  the  quality  of  water  supplied, 
and  the  general  standard  of  its  operation,  was  the  most 
satisfactfjrv  cjf  those  he  had  visited,  and  that  Mount  VerncJn, 
for  a  city  of  its  size  and  class,  had  no  superior  in  the  matter 
of  a  v^'ater  service. 


124 


HISTORY   OF   MOUNT  VERNON. 


THK    KVERKTT    PIANO  COMPANY 

AND  ITS  WORLD  FAMOI  S  PRODUCT. 


Frederick  Wallace,  in  the  December  (1902)  number  of 
the  "National  Magazine"  has  written  a  long  illustrated  art- 
icle entitled 

"The  Making  of  the  Everett  Piano,"  which  opens  as 
follows :  The  justly  celebrated  Gabrilowitsch  has  recently 
been  giving  a  number  of  performances  at  and  near  Boston. 
Those  who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  hear  them  have 
had  a  musical  treat,  indeed,  a  treat  to  be  remembered.  Music 
so  beautiful,  so  sweet,  so  clear,  rarely  meets  and  charms  the 
ear.  The  rise  and  swell  and  fall  of  melodies,  the  rapid  flow  of 
sound,  all  under  such  mastering  guidance;  now  rushing  along 
like  a  winter's  torrent,  now  meandering  like  a  summer's 
stream,  until  the  very  air  feels  instinct  with  music.  Aside  from 
the  triumph  of  the  artist,  I  was  interested  in  the  conquest  of 
the  American  artisan  who  made  this  possible.  I  wished  to 
know  something  about  the  instrument  on  which  he  pla3'ed 
— the  Everett  Piano.  I  no  longer  wonder  at  the  thrilling 
effects  heard  from  such  an  instrument  when  in  the  hands 


of  a  great  master,  exercising  boundless  control  over  its  won- 
derful capabilities." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  follow  the  detailed  description  of 
the  manufacture  of  the  Everett  Piano  in  this  place,  as  the 
Everett  has  a  world-wide  reputation  as  an  instrument  of  the 
highest  possible  artistic  qualities.  Not  only  Ossip  Gabrilo- 
witsch, the  great  Russian  pianist,  but  Richard  Burmeister, 
the  eminent  German  pianist,  our  own  Mme.  Nordica,  the 
great  opera  singer,  and  hundreds  of  other  musicians  use  this 
matchless  instrutnent  in  their  concert  work.  The  Everett 
manufactory  is  located  in  Boston,  occupying  the  entire  block 
on  Albany  street  from  Wareham  to  Maiden  streets.  This  is 
one  of  the  largest,  most  perfectly  appointed  plants  for  the 
manufacture  of  artistic  pianos  in  the  world,  and  has  been 
called  "a  veritable  school  of  art  with  every  man  an  artist." 
The  Company  has  branch  houses  in  Cincinnati  and  Chicago, 
while  the  New  York  house,  where  always  is  displaj'ed  a  very 
large  number  of  the  choicest  grands  and  uprights,  is  located  at 
141-143  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEAR  21st  STREET. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL 
INDEX. 

If  lookiiiLi  tor  Portrait,  consult  first  nunihcr: 
if"  lookiuji  tor  Hio^in-iphy,  consult  second  nunihcr. 
In  cases  where  only  one  number  is  f^iven,  there  is 
no  Portrait  or  no  Bio;^ra|)hy. 

A.  Pages. 

Archer,  Rolland  B   +7,  s;» 

Arnihruster,  William  11   122,  122 

H. 

Bard,  Oeor^re  \V   lO.",  10r> 

Baunian,  K.  ('.uiltord         .       .       .       .  11+,  11  + 

Beach,  (k'or/^c  O   +0,  11  + 

Boyce,  ('.en.  Henry  II   G7,  121 

Buck,  IVank  M   90 

C. 

Crawford,  (icorijc  K.         ....  7,  7+ 
I). 

Duflt,  Carl  E   1 1  7,  1 1  7 

I-:. 

Everett  Piano,  The   12+, 

I-. 

IVnnell,  C.corge  \V   1 1  7,  1  1  7 

Fiske,  Hon.  Bdwin  \V.  ( I'roniispiecc)    .  7+ 

Fordham,  Henry  C   s;{,  loG 

G. 

(k-nunj,',  Mcrwin  E   3'J,  SI 

Could,  Theodore   lot;,  loC, 

II. 

Hayes,  Gcor-ic   Ill,  77 

Hickcy,  I>anicl  C   7;>,  1  lo 

Hickey,  John  j   121.  121 

Hi-rtrins,  William  W   122,  122 

House,  Pr.  Joseph  .\.        ....  8r>,  SI 

Ilujihes,  Dr.  John  I   S2.  S2 

IIuss,  Henry   Its,  ;i7 

.T. 

Jones,  Dr.  Henry  C   11,  M 


K. 

Kcllo<'<'.  Minot  C  lo.  7S 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  INDEX 
CONTINUED. 


L.  Pages. 

Lewis,  Daniel   98,  98 

Lovett,  Charles  H   88,  86 

M. 

Mackenzie,  Colin   91,  101 

MacNicholl,  William  A   110,  110 

McClellan,  Clarence  S   95,  78 

McLean,  Col.  Cornelius     ....  51,  102 

Marshall,  William  J   75,  90 

Mendel,  William  H   102 

Merriam,  Franklin  A   103,  102 

Merrill,  Clarence  S   118,  118 

Mills,  Hon.  Isaac  N   23,  85 

Mount  Vernon  Water  Co.         ...  123 

N. 

N.  Y.  Inter-Urban  Water  Co.   .       .       .  107, 

N.  Y.  Telephone  Co   53,  123 

P. 

Page,  Melville  S   63,  109 

Pruser,  Henry  B   113,  113 

Purdy,  Dr.  William  H   59,  82 

R. 

Rathbun,  Milton   43,  77 

Reynolds,  James  L   96,  101 

S. 

Sherman,  Charles  F.         ....  114,  113 

Shinn,  John  M   89,  89 

Sinnott,  Charles  W   90,  90 

Smith,  Dr.  H.  Eugene       ....  55,  81 

Smith,  Elmer  P   93,  93 

Stilwell,  Stephen  J   99,  97 

Stiles,  Mark  D   31,  101 

Stratton,  F.  A   27,  81 

Straub,  Charles  W   92,  101 

Sullivan,  Maurice  J   71,  118 

Svvits,  David   97,  97 

Syme,  Hon.  Sydney  A   93,  93 

T. 

Taylor,  Theodore   106,  105 

Throop,  William  0   113,  113 

U. 

Union  R.  R.  Co.,  Power  House.      .       .  Ill, 
V. 

Van  Arsdale,  William  E   117,  117 

Van  Tassel,  Stephen   101,  98 

Van  Yorx,  Wilford  T   114,  114 


PORTRAIT   AMI    UK  X.RAPII  ICAl.  ISDLX 
C(>STISIi:i). 


W.  Pajfcs. 

W.-illaiukr.  A.  \V   10.-),  105 

Wcht-r,  Charks   110,  110 

UViss,  Dr.  (icorf^c  C   10+,  S2 

WVstchcstcr  Li;,duiii;,'  Co.,  HiiiUlin;,'       .  122,  122 

Wood,  Joseph  S.         .....         <s7,  S.-) 

Wur/.hnr;,',  Si(.';,'lii(.-(l   lO'.t,  lO'.l 


INDEX   TO  GENERAL 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Tape. 


The  Old  Boweriiiaii  Homestead,  Soutli  Col- 

lunlius  Ave.,   5 

Ruins  Caused  by  I'ire,  at  I'irst  St.  and  I'ourtli 

Ave.,  Oct.  H,  IST.'J   5 

Depressiiifi  Track  of  the  .\.  V.,  .\.  H.  ^:  II. 

R.    R.,    I-'irst  St.,  bet.   I'ilth  and  Sixth 

.■\ves.,         ........  r, 

Bastchester  Dock  

Summit  .Ave.,  Lookinir  North   from  Sidney 

.\ve   t; 

South  Fourth  .\ve.,  at  I'ourih  St.,        .  . 

Mt.  \'eriion  Hospital,    H 

.\rniory,  Co.  R,  I-'irst  Re<,'.,  -N.  ('..  X.  Y.,  . 

Martha  Wilson  Home  (Old  Ladies),       .       .  'J 

Second  Ave.,  Lookinji;  North  Irom  Fourth  St.,  lo 

Lincoln  .\ve.,  Lookins;  West  Irom  I'ultoii  .\ve.,  1(» 

I'ourtli  .Vve.,  Lookiiifi  South  Irom  I'ourth  St.,  lo 

N.  v.,  N.  II.  iS:  II.  R.  R.  Station,    .       .       .  1.5 

Ivast  First  St.,  West  from  Third  .\ve.,    .       .  \'A 

.Martens  Buildini,',   i;{ 

Ivast  I-'irst  St.,  from  City  Hall,        .       .       .  13 

Soldiers  Monument,   l-l- 

Bronx  River,  at  Oak  St.  Bridi^e,      ...  1  1- 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Episcopal,    .       .       .       .  1  + 

Second  St.,  Lookinsj  East  from  I-;it;hth  .\ve.,  17 

Second  St.,  Lookin<;  North  from  Third  St.,  .  17 
.\rcher  Ave.,   LSjokinj^  North  from  Prospect 

Ave   17 

V.  M.  C.  A.  Buildin-   is 

Lincoln  Ave.,  Ivast  from  Rich  .\ve.,        .      .  IS 

Second  .\ve..  North  from  I-"ourtli  St.,     .      .  IS 

Police  IIead(|uartcrs,    ......  Is 

I-'irst  Ave,   Lookini;  South  from  Second  St.,  21 

I-'ourlh  Ave.,  Lookiuir  North  from  Second  St.,  21 
Fulton  .\ve.,   Lookini;   North   from  Lincoln 

Ave   21 

Read's  Mill   22 

Seaton  I'alls   22 

Mt.  \"crnon    Pumping  Station,  N.  N'.  Inter- 

Prban  Water  Co   22 

Central  Hose  Co.,  No.  +.  Truck  Co.  No.  2.  .  25 

Clinton  H.  and  L.  Co..  Niavjara  Hose  Co..  .  25 


INDEX   TO   GENERAL  ILLUSTRATIONS 
CONTINUED. 


Page. 


Independent  Hose  Co.  No.  2,    .       .       .       .  25 

Washington  Engine  Co.  No.  1,         ...  29 

Protection  Engine  Co.  No.  2,    .       .       .       .  2".) 

Engine  Co.  No.  3   30 

Columbia  Hose  Co.  No.  5,        ....  30 

Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Victory,  R.  C,         .  33 

St.  Paul's  German  Lutheran  Church,     .       .  33 

First  Presbyterian  Church,        ....  33 

Dutch  Reformed  Church,   33 

First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,         .       ,  34- 

Trinity  Church,  Episcopal,        ....  34 

First  Baptist  Church,   34 

Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  R.  C,        .       .  34- 

Swedish  M.  E.  Church,   37 

First  Congregational  Church,   ....  37 

South  Ninth  Ave.,  South  from  Fourth  St.,   .  37 

German  M.  E.  Church,   37 

Swedish  Lutheran  Church,         ....  38 

Universalist  Church,   38 

St.  Johannes  Evangelical   38 

Congregational  Chapel,  "\'ernon  Park,    .       .  38 

English  Lutheran  Church   41 

North  M.  E.  Church   41 

St.  Mary's  Church,  R.  C,   41 

Church  of  the  Ascension,  Ejiiscopal,       .       .  41 

Chester    Hill    M.    E.    Church,  ....  42 

Republican  Club,  Mt.  ^'ernon,   ....  42 

South  Fifth  Ave.,  North  from  Fourth  St.,    .  57 

High  School,  South  Fourth  Ave.,    ...  57 

School  No.  1.,  South  Fifth  Ave.,      ...  57 

South  Fourth  Ave.,  South  from  Fourth  St.,  57 

Union  Hill  vSchool  No.  6   58 

School  No.  5,  North  High  St   58 

School  No.  3,  Eleventh  Ave.,     ....  58 

School  No.  9,  Vernon  Park,      ....  58 

School  No.  4,  Fifth  Ave.,  near  Sixth  St.,  61 

Chester  Hill  School  No.  2,         ....  61 

School  No.  7,  South  Fulton  Ave.,    ...  61 

Scho(jl  No.  8,  Howard  St.,        ....  61 

City  Hall,  Lucas  Building,        ....  94 

Common  Council  Chamber,       ....  94 

City  Hall,  Lucas  Building,  from  First  St.,    .  94 

Residence  of  Mayor  Edwin  W.  Fiske,      .       .  100 

The  Circle,  North  Fourth  and  Lincoln  Ave.,  115 

Park,  Eleventh  Ave.  and  First  St.,         .       .  115 

Claremont  Ave.,  Looking  North,     .       .       .  115 

Monument  Park,   116 

Park,  Glen  Avenue  and  Willow  I'lace,  .  .  116 
The  Stevens  Homestead,  Residence  of  George 

Stevens,   119 

The  Collins  Homestead,  Residence  of  Mr.  W. 

J.  Collins   119 


Ex  IGibrtH 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


H'beii  you  leave,  please  leave  ibis  hook 

Because  it  has  been  saui 
"^iver'lhific)  comes  I  him  icbo  loatls 

Eycepi  a  loaned  book." 


Am  in  Arc  mil  c  Ti  rai  wd  F-'i\i  Aris  I.ibr  \R^ 

(ill  I  Ol  Si  ^ Alol  R  B.  1)1  KSl  Ol  I)  \'l)KK  LiHK  \1<^ 


